Jesse Eisenberg‘s film A Real Pain delves into generational trauma and family dynamics as two Jewish American cousins confront the weight of their family’s Holocaust history while touring modern-day Poland. The film, which opens in theaters this Friday and is distributed by Searchlight Pictures, raises important questions about pain, identity, and how different forms of trauma shape us. Eisenberg, who also stars as one of the cousins, David, sought to explore personal pain set against a much darker historical background. “I wanted to talk about that pain between cousins but against the backdrop of something so much more objectively worse, like World War II trauma,” Eisenberg said, encouraging viewers to reflect on what constitutes valid pain.
The film follows David and Benji, played by Succession star Kieran Culkin, as they join a group tour in Poland to learn more about their Jewish heritage and the experiences of their ancestors. Benji, with his outspoken and sometimes abrasive personality, adds a layer of complexity to the group dynamics, challenging the guide, James (played by The White Lotus actor Will Sharpe), and stirring up tension. For Sharpe, Benji’s boldness leaves a lasting impact on the other characters, often pushing them to confront their own perspectives in unexpected ways. “Benji sort of impacts each of our characters along the journey, sometimes in a competitive way,” Sharpe explained, noting that Benji’s presence forces his character, James, to rethink his role as the guide.
The film’s nuanced portrayal of pain resonated with the cast, especially with Culkin, who found insight into his character by comparing him to people in his life. “Knowing somebody in my life that’s pretty similar to him helped me understand Benji on a deeper level,” Culkin said. The cousins’ contrasting temperaments intensify the emotional undercurrents, with David both fascinated and frustrated by Benji’s forthrightness.
Jennifer Grey, who plays a fellow member of the tour group, views the film as an exploration of healing. For her, A Real Pain portrays the ongoing struggle of managing pain from both historical horrors and personal challenges. “The cure for pain is healing. It doesn’t mean it goes away; it just means there’s perhaps some mitigating of the pain, some shift in perspective,” she shared, highlighting the film’s central message of finding ways to cope with trauma.
- A Real Pain* is ultimately a journey through grief, identity, and the healing process, capturing the cousins’ struggle to reconcile their personal experiences with the enduring legacy of the Holocaust. Eisenberg’s reflective storytelling bridges the past and present, inviting audiences to consider the nature of pain and resilience across generations.
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