Review: Bickering cousins run into ‘A Real Pain’ exploring Jewish heritage, grief and resentments

As a film enthusiast with a penchant for stories that delve deep into the human psyche and familial dynamics, “A Real Pain” left an indelible mark on me. Having spent countless hours watching the silver screen unfold, I can confidently say that Jesse Eisenberg’s latest creation ranks among the most poignant and thought-provoking films I’ve seen in recent memory.

In common phrase, you have the freedom to choose your friends, yet your family is not something you get to select. However, what if a family member is more than just a relative; they are a friend too, someone warm-hearted and captivating, but also someone who can be frustratingly inconsiderate?

In a more casual and engaging rewording: “Jesse Eisenberg’s film, titled ‘A Real Pain,’ offers a poignant exploration of family dynamics through the lens of his personal experiences. The story follows cousins David (played by Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin), as they journey to Poland to pay their respects at the childhood home of their late grandmother Dory, who was a Holocaust survivor.

The cousins’ trip – beginning with a guided tour focused on Jewish heritage in Warsaw and Lublin, followed by a detour to Dory’s countryside birthplace – traverses both emotional and geographical landscapes. Initially, the sightseeing might appear as a ploy to reunite estranged David and Benji, but Eisenberg skillfully intertwines the narrative threads in a way that is both darkly humorous, poignant, and tense.

However, it’s Benji’s creation that reveals the unique flavor of the movie; he is undoubtedly one of the most vibrant and engaging characters you’ll encounter on screen this year. Culkin delivers an outstanding performance, embodying the character with a striking blend of enthusiasm and deep emotion.

A man without direction, occasionally erratic and experiencing a significant low following his grandmother’s passing, the straightforward Benji is also an energetic and uninhibited character: a foul-mouthed, disregard-for-rules maelstrom who can effortlessly win over even strict officials, audaciously mail a block of marijuana (to Poland, no less) or transform a serious event into a lively performance.

At times, I find myself drawn to a sarcastic edge in his humor that, at its extreme, overshadows his kinder qualities and challenges the patience of those who engage with him.

In this case, that mainly includes the earnest David, a digital ad salesman and devoted family man with controlled obsessive-compulsive disorder and a low threshold for embarrassment, the latter of which Benji repeatedly tests. Benji may think David is too tightly wound — and he may be — but so is Benji, just in different, less overt ways.

In their youth, the cousins’ contrasting personalities might have brought them closer, and it’s evident that their affection for each other has endured. However, as adult travel companions, their long-standing dynamic frequently causes tension rather than friendship. When David bluntly tells Benji, “You make a room shine, and then, well, you mess up everything in it,” one can’t help but wonder how long he’s been holding back on expressing that sentiment.

Apart from Benji, the tour group members – wistful divorcee Marcia (Jennifer Grey), Rwandan genocide survivor and Jewish convert Eloge (Kurt Egyiawan), married couple Mark and Diane (Daniel Oreskes and Liza Sadovy), and their knowledgeable guide James (Will Sharpe) who has a keen interest in Jewish history – also experienced his ups and downs.

The genial bunch can’t help but be drawn to the warmly ebullient Benji — Marcia, in particular, finds in him a ready ear — until he has some hairpin meltdown about Jews riding first-class on a Polish train (“Eighty years ago we would have been herded into the backs of these things like cattle”) or what he deems James’ invasive fact-sharing at a hallowed cemetery. He leaves the others stunned and David mortified until the storm cloud passes and he’s his jaunty, loquacious self again. But we can see the increasing chinks in Benji’s armor with each passing setback.

Regardless of all the captivating historical sites that tourists often explore (made even more compelling by Michal Dymek’s vivid cinematography), none leaves a stronger emotional impact than their visit to the Majdanek concentration camp near Lublin. As James leads them through, there is an almost palpable hush (the film’s melodious soundtrack, rich in Chopin compositions, fades into silence at this point), and you can feel the spirits of its countless victims haunting the cold, grim halls of the camp.

The series clearly reflects James’ initial caution that it would be a journey centered around suffering. While Eisenberg as a director does not dwell excessively on emotionally devastating scenes, its impact is profound on the narrative and, most notably, on Benji’s emotions.

The cousins’ eventual return to the house Grandma Dory had fled during the Nazi era is portrayed in an understated yet believable and deeply moving manner, incorporating a subtle twist that effectively complements the ups and downs of David and Benji’s tumultuous bond.

Discovering that the simple house depicted in this image is the very one Eisenberg’s great-aunt escaped from in 1939 gives a chilling sense of authenticity to the otherwise profoundly moving tableau.

Despite Macauley Culkin stealing the spotlight, Jesse Eisenberg delivers one of his finest, deeply emotional performances. His characteristic rapid speech rhythm remains prominent, as he portrays a man who has grown to value life’s obligations but may have lost a part of himself along the way. The restaurant scene where David, during Benji’s brief absence, emotionally shares a wealth of feelings about his troubled relative with their worried companions is particularly powerful and moving.

In this latest project, Eisenberg advances beyond his first venture into feature film directing (“When You Finish Saving the World” in 2022). Here, he solidifies himself as a unique storyteller, boasting a sharp visual acumen, skillful balance of tones, and an intuitive grasp of timing and rhythm.

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2024-11-02 04:01