Mismatched cousins reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. Their adventure becomes complicated as old tensions resurface while exploring their family history. A film by Jesse Eisenberg starring Kieran Culkin, Will Sharpe, Jennifer Grey, Kurt Egyiawan, Liza Sadovy, Daniel Oreskes, and Jesse Eisenberg.
A REAL PAIN
Jesse Eisenberg
(2024)
After their Jewish grandmother Dory passed away, she left money in her will for her Jewish-American grandsons – cousins Dave (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji Kaplan (Kieran Culkin) – to visit her childhood home in Poland, where she had survived the Holocaust.
Though Dave, whose real name is David, had always been preoccupied with his work and family life with his wife Priya (Ellora Torchia) and young son Abe (Banner Eisenberg), he decided to drop everything and arrange the trip with Benji when he felt the timing was right. The cousins, whose fathers are brothers, finally make the journey their grandmother had wanted them to take.
The cousins join a Heritage Tour led by British guide James (Will Sharpe), who is deeply obsessed with the Jewish experience. Their tour group includes several distinct personalities: Marcia Kramer (Jennifer Grey), a recent divorcee who moved back to New York and whose mother was a Holocaust survivor who never spoke of her experience; retired couple Diane (Liza Sadovy) and Mark Binder (Daniel Oreskes), with Mark’s family having left Poland before the war; and Eloge (Kurt Egyiawan), an African-born convert to Judaism who has spent the last decade immersed in Jewish culture.
Though Dave and Benji are practically brothers, having been born just three weeks apart, their personalities are polar opposites. Dave is reserved and polite, while Benji is free-spirited and outgoing. As Benji effortlessly charms everyone in the tour group, Dave keeps a watchful eye on his cousin, clearly worried he might say or do something inappropriate.
During the tour, Benji becomes visibly upset about the stark contrast between their current luxury train experience and the horrific past – where Jewish people were transported like cattle in the same track 80 years ago. When no one in the first-class compartment shares his concerns, a frustrated Benji storms off to the back of the train, with a worried Dave following close behind.
Dave and Benji end up missing their stop at Lublin Główny station after separating from the group, with Dave falling asleep during the journey. When he finally wakes up, they realize they’ve ended up at Kraśnik station – 9 stops and 30 minutes away from their intended destination. Rather than buying new tickets, Benji suggests they could hop on a train heading back to Lublin and dodge the conductor until they arrive.
The cousins reunite with their tour group, who have been waiting for them outside Lublin station. James resumes the tour, guiding them through the city’s significant sites and Jewish historical landmarks, including the historic Lublin Castle (Zamek Lubelski) and the Old Jewish Cemetery (Stary Cmentarz Żydowski w Lublinie).
The Old Jewish Cemetery in Lublin, Poland, is a historically significant site reflecting the long-standing presence of the Jewish community in the region. Established around 1541, it is one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in Poland. The cemetery is the final resting place for many prominent figures from the Lublin Jewish community, including rabbis and scholars. Notable burials include the Seer of Lublin (Yaakov Yitzhak Horowic), whose grave is marked by a distinctive ohel (a protective structure) and reflects the rich tradition of Jewish burial practices. The cemetery suffered extensive damage during World War II. Many gravestones were destroyed or repurposed by Nazi occupiers for construction purposes. Prior to the war, it was estimated that there were around 3,000 tombstones, but only about 200 have survived to this day.
During dinner at James’s favorite restaurant – a spot he brings every tour group to for its excellent food – the conversation turns personal. Marcia shares her uncle’s story, while Diane recounts tales of Mark’s great uncle.
When Dave begins telling their grandmother Dory’s story and her thoughts on immigrants, Benji becomes visibly upset, believing Dave is taking a dig at him by referencing someone living in their mother’s basement smoking pot all day – even though Dave insists he was speaking about immigrants in general. The warm atmosphere suddenly turns tense, and when Benji excuses himself to the restroom, Dave apologizes to the group for his cousin’s behavior and opens up about Benji’s concerning pattern of erratic behavior.
Written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg, “A Real Pain” weaves a compelling narrative about cousins who have grown apart in different directions in their lives, while exploring the haunting truth about the Holocaust and its survivors.
While Eisenberg’s portrayal of Dave feels like he’s playing himself as in his other films, I still admire the fact that without him this film wouldn’t exist – he not only wrote the wonderful script but also masterfully directed and starred in it.
Kieran Culkin delivers a mesmerizing performance, his natural charisma making every moment feel authentic. Whether delivering dialogue or in silent moments, his expressive eyes and subtle body language always convey depths of emotion.
A REAL PAIN is undoubtedly one of the best films of the year, and deserves recognition as one of the greatest road trip films ever made.
A REAL PAIN premiered at Sundance Film Festival on 20 January 2024. The film received a limited theatrical release in the United States on 1 November, by Searchlight Pictures.
