‘A Real Pain’ Review: A Love Letter to Poland and Tourism

Jesse Eisenberg’s second feature is undoubtedly his best. With a compelling performance from Kieran Culkin and Eisenberg hilariously complimenting that, A Real Pain’s masterful balance of comedy and drama makes it one of the best comedies this year. Read our A Real Pain review.

This A Real Pain review was made possible thanks to an early screening at the BFI London Film Festival.

When it comes to a film starring Kieran Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg, you come in with a clear set of expectations. The film is going to be very funny, well acted and have a surprising amount of heart. Unsurprisingly then, this film is everything you want it to be and more. Despite it only being Eisenberg’s second feature film, his grasp on tone is what shapes this movie into being the best it can be and it is this mixture that makes it so effective. As well as this, it is great to see a director/actor that knows how much they need to be in the movie. Ultimately, this is a showcase for Kieran Culkin and whilst Eisenberg’s name might be attached to three big credits in the end, it is Culkin who steals the show and who you will come away thinking about every time you reflect on the movie. He has a lot to do in this movie and the whole weight is on him, it lives and dies by his performance. Whilst it is impossible to not look for the Roman Roy-isms in his performance, he does manage to distance this character away from the one he is most famous for as Benji doesn’t have such a strong hold on his emotions, and is prone to an outburst. 

The supporting cast here is very good and are so watchable, every time the group is out on the tour, the movie is at its best. The interactions between the characters are very funny and it brings out a lot of joy seeing them banter and mingle considering their wildly different backstories and histories. Specifically, seeing Benji and Marsha (Jennifer Grey) hit it off was very compelling and it left you wanting more of them together – even hoping they keep in contact in some way, but the movie keeps these interactions confined within small moments on the tour in an unsatisfying, albeit more realistic outcome. The dynamic of the group is what carries the movie and the way that they all react to the tour and the various sensitivities they bring to it is what makes this movie so unique – it isn’t just about two cousins being tourists on holiday, it is about what everyone brings to their holiday experience and how individual perspectives can allow things to vary in tone: whilst someone may see something as comedic, others see it as deeply upsetting and hurtful. 

This notably touches a nerve with Benji and it is David (Jesse Eisenberg) who has to keep him in line. Culkin charges around Poland, with Eisenberg behind apologising for his actions. It is hard to describe just how strong this dynamic is without getting into spoilers, but their interactions are what makes the movie. It would have been very easy for Eisenberg to play this as a straight comedy and when you have this kind of talent behind the movie, it is quite surprising that it didn’t go that way. However, considering it is inspired by the true story of Eisenberg visiting Poland to learn more about his relatives, it is clear he wanted to channel that personal and intimate feeling that comes with it. For every laugh in the movie, there is a tear and it knows exactly when and how to play both of those moments. From a scene full of laughs to a silent 4 minute tour around a concentration camp, the film knows when to let you sombre at the moment. 

There is a particular moment in the film that really sums up the message and forces you to reflect on not only the movie but also moments in your own life that you might have taken for granted and the deeper aspects at play during a holiday. Wherever you go, particularly if it is on a tour to honour a certain group of people or pay respects, you are standing not only in linear history, but individual history. Where you are stood and walking through is exactly where someone once lived their lives every day – walked to school, got beat up, had their first kiss, witnessed something horrific. When you are somewhere else, you are a tourist to other people’s pain, to other people’s feelings.

Culkin gets a confronting and uncomfortable monologue on a train that forces you to check your own privilege and reflect on the daily life you live – other people were not as fortunate. Especially when you travel somewhere with historical value, it is important to put yourself in the mindset of the location and imagine how life was at the time. If you go somewhere just to take advantage of all the privileges of a place that was once home to somebody’s pain then are you really embracing the essence of the trip and where does it fit morally? This is the true message of the movie and despite the engrossing personal relationship between Benji and David, it is truly forcing you to reflect on your own privilege and to delve deeper when visiting other places – specifically encouraging you to reflect on the pain experienced there and make an attempt to embody that.

The movie will have a limited release in the United States on November 1st.

A Real Pain is directed by Jesse Eisenberg and stars Kieran Culkin, Jesse Eisenberg, Will Sharpe, Jennifer Grey, Kurt Egyiawan, Liza Sadovoy and Daniel Oreskes. Jesse Eisenberg, Dave McCary, Ali Herting, Jennifer Semler, Ewa Puszczynska and Emma Stone serve as producers. 

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