Score: 4/5
The latest film from actor and comedian Jesse Eisenberg and starring Kieran Culkin is a humble blend of humour and sadness, depicting the complicated journey of processing grief.
A Real Pain follows cousins David and Benji on their week-long tour throughout Poland. The two reunite for the trip after an extended period apart following the passing of their Jewish-Polish grandmother, whom Benji shared a particularly strong connection with. Shortly upon arrival, the distance in their relationship reveals its effects, and the two clash at several points. However, despite their differences, the cousins are connected by their grief and pain, working together to understand and process it in different ways.
A noticeable quality of A Real Pain is how involved it makes the viewer feel through the opposing forces of its two protagonists. Oftentimes there is a David and a Benji inside us, fighting each other for control, same as there are Davids and Benjis everywhere, disagreements that challenge both parties to grow and understand each other.
The film works magnificently as a character study because of how opposite the two cousins are. David is a squirrely, anxious type who has the appearance of “always looking like he’s running late.” Regardless, he has a cushy job in advertising, a wife and son, and an apartment in a safe area of New York City. By standard criteria he could be called a successful person, yet he still feels inferior to the more charismatic, albeit chaotic, Benji. Any emotional pain he experiences feels immediately invalidated by his socioeconomic status as a “successful” person; he is someone who, in his own eyes, should have no reason to feel how he does.
Benji is the opposite of his cousin. He is light, carefree and unconcerned with planning, career aspirations or following rules. He brings energy to the tour group and immediately establishes a relationship with his fellow tourists. Despite his playful exterior, Benji experiences just as much grief and pain as his cousin and anyone else. Unlike David, he responds openly to his emotions, expressing how he feels without a filter.
There’s ample credit due for the two lead performances. Eisenberg builds on his typical fidgety, awkward characterization by introducing repressed emotional depth and turmoil to David; however, it’s Culkin who really flexes his range here. Dressed in standard attire like everyone else, he relies on his understanding and exploration of Benji’s character to craft his performance and build a presence. He’s likeable, frustrating, hilarious and admirable all at once: a friend we’d both love and hate to have.
The way grief is conveyed never feels lacklustre or cheap. It creeps up as the characters subtly reveal how it has impacted their relationship. Running at an airtight 90 minutes, A Real Pain doesn’t offer a dramatic inquiry into the subject, but one that feels immediate and realistic. Eisenberg’s screenplay is sharp and effective, getting to the meat of the themes explored in an impactful way and allowing both characters to feel their emotions. He layers comedy with drama, controlling the tone of the story at a steady rhythm and showing exceptional promise for future directorial endeavours. The lasting impact of the more climatic scenes would have benefited from being a bit longer at times, but this does not retract from the emotionally satisfying way the film wraps itself up.
A Real Pain finishes quietly, on a hopeful — albeit bittersweet — note, as if gesturing to viewers with a supportive pat on the back. It leaves you feeling validated in the confusing feelings induced by the ups and downs of life. No matter the kind of pain you’re feeling or how you show it, it’s a real thing deserving of recognition and support.