A Real Pain Review: Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin’s Explores Family, History, and Emotions

Jesse Eisenberg’s latest directorial effort, A Real Pain, is more than just a movie it’s a compelling journey through personal pain, family history, and the indelible marks of trauma. With standout performances from Eisenberg himself and Kieran Culkin, the film sets a new benchmark for indie dramedies, where philosophical musings and raw emotions blend seamlessly against a backdrop of historical significance.

But this isn’t just a story about two cousins on a tour of Poland it’s about what happens when you confront your past while still grappling with the problems of the present. The film does a masterful job of balancing humour with profound depth, offering viewers a thought-provoking look at the legacy of trauma, emotional growth, and human connection.

1. Jesse Eisenberg’s Signature Style: An Evolution
Over the years, Jesse Eisenberg has honed a signature cinematic style witty, neurotic, and fast-paced. From his scathing portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network to the more introspective Fleishman Is in Trouble, Eisenberg has carved out a niche for himself in character driven stories that focus on the complexities of modern life.

With A Real Pain, he doubles down on these familiar elements but with a mistier, more emotionally charged tone. Here, the anxieties aren’t just personal they’re tied to a broader historical trauma that looms over the characters like a shadow. Eisenberg’s evolution as a filmmaker is evident, especially in the way he navigates the balance between humour and poignancy. You’ll find yourself laughing one moment and contemplating life’s deepest questions the next.

2. Family Dynamics: The Heart of the Film
At its core, A Real Pain is a story about family. Mismatched cousins David (played by Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) set off on a tour of Poland, primarily to honour their late grandmother’s final wish to visit her homeland. While that may sound like a straightforward narrative, the real tension lies in the dynamic between the two cousins, who couldn’t be more different.

David is tightly wound, a man who prefers order and control, while Benji is an impulsive, foul-mouthed free spirit with little regard for the rules. Their reunion after years of drifting apart reignites old tensions, setting the stage for an emotionally charged, often hilarious journey. Think of them as a modern-day odd couple, forced to navigate not only their shared family history but also their vastly different worldviews.

3. The Emotional Weight of Historical Trauma
One of the film’s most compelling aspects is its exploration of generational trauma. David and Benji’s grandmother was a Holocaust survivor, and the weight of that history looms large throughout the film. The cousins’ trip to Poland isn’t just a tourist adventure it’s a pilgrimage to uncover the roots of their family’s pain.

This historical context adds layers of complexity to the characters’ emotional struggles. David, who suffers from medicated OCD, finds himself grappling with how to place his relatively small problems next to the monumental horrors of the Holocaust. Benji, on the other hand, seems more interested in provoking reactions than truly engaging with the past, yet he remains the more outwardly emotional of the two.

The film doesn’t shy away from asking tough questions: How do you weigh your personal pain against the collective suffering of an entire people? How do you honour the legacy of those who came before you while trying to live in the present? These questions, while universal, feel deeply personal in the context of the film, making the audience ponder their own connection to history.

4. Kieran Culkin’s Standout Performance
While Eisenberg delivers a solid performance as the neurotic David, it’s Kieran Culkin who steals the show as Benji. Known for his role as Roman Roy in Succession, Culkin brings a similar energy to this film raw, chaotic, and bursting with emotion. However, Benji is more than just a carbon copy of Roman; he’s a character with depth and nuance, struggling with his own emotional pain.

Culkin’s performance is electric, providing much of the film’s comic relief while also serving as its emotional core. He’s the kind of character who makes you laugh at his outrageous antics one minute and breaks your heart the next. Whether he’s riffing on the absurdity of life or confronting the darker aspects of his family’s history, Culkin’s portrayal of Benji is both captivating and complex.

5. The Intricacies of Jewish Identity and Trauma
The film delves into the intricacies of Jewish identity, particularly in the context of generational trauma. David and Benji aren’t just grappling with their personal issues they’re also navigating what it means to be Jewish in a post-Holocaust world.

The tour group they join is composed of people with varying connections to Jewish history, including a Holocaust survivor, a divorced woman whose grandparents fled Europe, and even a man who converted to Judaism after surviving the Rwandan genocide. Each character brings their own perspective on pain and survival, creating a rich tapestry of stories that intersect with David and Benji’s journey.

But A Real Pain doesn’t merely offer a history lesson it interrogates how people today relate to the past. Are we too far removed from the tragedies of our ancestors to truly understand their suffering? Or are those wounds still fresh, passed down through generations, influencing our emotions and decisions in ways we don’t fully comprehend?

6. Humour as a Coping Mechanism
Despite the heavy themes, A Real Pain is undeniably funny. Eisenberg’s signature deadpan humour is on full display, and the banter between David and Benji is sharp and often laugh-out-loud hilarious. Humour serves as a coping mechanism for the characters, allowing them to navigate the weight of their family’s history without becoming overwhelmed by it.

Benji’s irreverence, in particular, provides a counterpoint to the more sober moments of the film. Whether he’s posing next to a WWII memorial for a photo op or critiquing their first-class train tickets, Benji’s comedic timing cuts through the tension, offering moments of relief ian what could otherwise be an emotionally draining story.

7. The Polish Setting: More Than Just a Backdrop
Filmed on location in Poland, A Real Pain captures the country’s haunting beauty with an unforced sense of place. From the bustling streets of Warsaw to the quiet, sombre landscapes of the Polish countryside, the setting plays a crucial role in the film’s atmosphere.

Eisenberg’s cinematographic choices underscore the emotional claustrophobia the characters feel as they delve deeper into their family’s history. The unglamorous, sometimes bleak surroundings mirror the internal struggles of the characters, creating a visual representation of the emotional weight they carry.

A Thought-Provoking and Emotional Journey

A Real Pain is more than just a film it’s a meditation on family, history, and the complexities of human emotion. With its seamless blend of humour and depth, the movie invites viewers to reflect on their own experiences of pain, both personal and historical. Eisenberg’s second feature as a director proves that he’s not only a talented actor but also a filmmaker with a keen eye for storytelling. Combined with Kieran Culkin’s standout performance, A Real Pain stands as one of the year’s most thought-provoking and emotionally resonant films. Whether you’re drawn to its philosophical musings or its sharp humour, this film has something for everyone.