A Real Pain

Plot

Following the death of their beloved grandmother, and after receiving a small inheritance to do so, two almost 40-year-old Jewish cousins travel to Poland to visit the cities that she grew up in. There they take part in a tour group and visit many cities that were involved in the war, and reconnect after years apart.

Direction

Tender direction from lead star Eisenberg is well put together, with perfect cuts of the Polish countryside.

One particular moment that stands out is when the characters head to the concentration camps, where the characters see of the horrors such as the gas stained wall, and the cages of shoes. This is paired with barely any dialogue and diegetic sound which puts the viewer right there with the characters – and feeling the overwhelming emotions that the characters are feeling.

Another moment I loved was when during the tour group the tour guide shows them ‘old businesses’ that have cuts on screen to show ‘what is there today’ and how modern life has taken over – forgetting the past.

Cast/Characters

Eisenberg takes the lead role of David, a married man with children – who has outgrown his need to let others know his feelings, keeping them to himself rather than burdening them with his problems. He is an introvert, and would rather put his efforts into his job and his family.

He does a stellar job of this, but I found that he struggled a little bit with some of the heartfelt and heavier moments he portrayed – especially during some of his breakdown moments. I think he has aged out of some of the ‘fast dialogue’ roles he has been known to do in the past, and I’d love to see him focus on a career behind the camera in the future.

Kieren Culkin delivers an unbelievably raw performance as Ben – who is the polar opposite of David. He is confident, suave and an extrovert, able to adapt to any environment in way of communicating with others. He also has his ups and downs in his personality, showing clear signs of depression and even ptsd. The revelation that he has recently survived a suicide attempt is revealed organically and handled with extreme care.

Culkin’s displays of emotional change won him an Oscar, and it was rightly awarded. While he at times is gentle and caring, at others he can be brash and abrasive – making others feel awkward and uncomfortable.

Screenplay/Setting/Themes

There are quite a few central themes that I found throughout the film.

Friendship and family are one; with David and Ben – who are just months apart in age, and who were once close in childhood and adolescence having grown apart in recent years. David went on to marry, get a job and have a child, and Ben lives at home with his mother, is unemployed.

Ben is almost in mourning over the loss of his cousin and friend, and what they once had – while David has moved on. I empathised with both characters here, as I’ve had very good friends either move away, or life has just gotten in the way to see each other, and done my own level of mourning of the loss of those friendships.

The horrors of the war and the contrast of what that generation were subject to, to our current generation and what we perceive as ‘bad’ is also discussed. Ben is clearly suffering in his own mind, but feels extreme guilt as his ancestors clearly had it much worse.

Eisenberg who wrote the film as well, gives an often fast paced dialogue – full of historical facts. It is beautiful, poignant and shows the talent he has as a filmmaker.

Score/Soundtrack

Rather than a ‘new score’ Eisenberg borrows the Polish classical musician Chopin’s many wonderful ballads.

Overall

An absolute stellar of a film, with wonderful direction by Eisenberg, and a deserving Oscar win by Culkin.

A must watch. You can hear more about this film on my podcast

4/5