Published:
A Real Pain
Incompatible cousins David and Benji embark on a journey to Poland in honor of their beloved grandmother. David is a family man, a digital advertising professional living a safe and conventional life. His cousin Benji stirs up feelings of both jealousy and shame in him. Benji is a drifter – outspoken, emotional, and unfiltered in expressing his thoughts and feelings, no matter how inappropriate the situation. Benji, on the other hand, sees David as harmless but judges him through childhood memories, labeling him a loser.
They join a group led by a British guide named James, who takes them on a tour exploring Polish-Jewish cultural heritage. However, the nature of the trip changes when long-standing tensions between the cousins resurface, set against the backdrop of their family history.
A Real Pain carries a distinctly personal dimension, as director/actor Jesse Eisenberg’s roots trace back to Krasnystaw, Poland, from which his family emigrated before World War II.
Kieran Culkin won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film.