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A Real Pain

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A Real Pain
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJesse Eisenberg
Written byJesse Eisenberg
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyMichał Dymek
Edited byRobert Nassau
Production
companies
Distributed bySearchlight Pictures
Release dates
  • January 20, 2024 (2024-01-20) (Sundance)
  • November 1, 2024 (2024-11-01) (United States)
Running time
90 minutes[3]
Countries
  • Poland
  • United States[3]
LanguageEnglish
Box office$4.2 million[4][5]

A Real Pain is a 2024 comedy drama film, written, directed, and produced by Jesse Eisenberg. It stars Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin, Will Sharpe, Jennifer Grey, Kurt Egyiawan, Liza Sadovy, and Daniel Oreskes. Emma Stone and Dave McCary serve as producers under their Fruit Tree banner.

It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2024, and was given a limited theatrical release in the United States on November 1, 2024.

Plot

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American Jewish cousins David and Benji embark on a trip to Poland to visit the childhood home of their late grandmother, and to connect with their heritage. David, a reserved and pragmatic father and husband, contrasts sharply with Benji, a free-spirited and eccentric drifter. Their personalities clash as Benji criticizes David for losing his former passion and spontaneity, while David struggles with Benji’s unfiltered outbursts and lack of direction in life.

The pair have travelled as part of a Holocaust tour group led by James, a knowledgeable yet detached gentile British tour guide. The cousins' dynamic is tested throughout the trip, from a missed train stop to a confrontation at the Old Jewish Cemetery where Benji critiques the tour's lack of emotional authenticity and challenges its focus on facts and statistics, to David's embarrassment. Benji nonetheless connects with the group members, who find themselves moved by his emotional honesty.

During a group dinner, Benji continues behaving inappropriately and making uncomfortable comments, prompting the tour group to delicately confront him. Benji leaves the table, upon which David opens up to the group about the complex mixture of admiration, resentment, and envy he feels towards his cousin. He additionally reveals that the two have drifted apart following a suicide attempt by Benji earlier that year.

On their last day with the tour, the group visits the Majdanek concentration camp. Before departing from the group, James tells Benji that he is the first person on one of his tours to provide him with feedback, and thanks him for changing his perspective on the way he should lead his tour. David and Benji travel to their grandmother's former home as their final stop, where Benji recounts an incident from years earlier where their grandmother slapped him after he arrived late and intoxicated to dinner with her. He states that the slap gave him a sense of clarity and humility, and laments that she was the only person able to keep him disciplined.

On their final night in Poland, the cousins smoke marijuana on a hotel rooftop together, where Benji confronts David about his changed personality and why he never visits him. While David initially responds that he is busy with his wife and child, he eventually breaks down and explains that following Benji's suicide attempt, he is unable to bear the thought of a person with Benji's passion for life killing themselves.

The pair return to New York, where Benji declines David's offers to visit his home for dinner and to drive Benji to his train home from Penn Station. This prompts David to slap Benji, though they immediately reconcile and profess that they care deeply about each other. David returns to his home and greets his wife and child, while Benji sits at the airport, deep in thought.

Cast

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Production

[edit]
Principal photography in Lublin

In August 2022, it was announced Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin would star in the film, with Eisenberg directing from a screenplay he wrote, with Emma Stone and Dave McCary set to produce.[7] It marks Eisenberg's second feature film as writer/director, after 2022's When You Finish Saving the World.[8]

Principal photography began in May 2023.[9][10]

Release

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It premiered in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2024.[11] Shortly after, Searchlight Pictures acquired worldwide rights to the film for $10 million in an all-night auction.[12][13] The film will have its European premiere at the 20th Zurich Film Festival in October 2024.[14] It was also announced as part of the 'Meeting Point' slate of the 69th Valladolid International Film Festival.[15]

Originally scheduled to be released in the United States on October 18, 2024,[16] the film's release was subsequently pushed by two weeks to November 1.[17]

Reception

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 96% of 169 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.3/10. The website's consensus reads: "Led by a scene-stealing turn from Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain is a powerfully funny, emotionally resonant dramedy that finds writer-director-star Jesse Eisenberg playing to his strengths on either side of the camera."[18] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 85 out of 100, based on 49 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[19]

Damon Wise of Deadline Hollywood praised Culkin for his performance, calling it "a career high".[20]

Accolades

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Award Date of ceremony Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
Sundance Film Festival January 26, 2024 Grand Jury Prize – Dramatic A Real Pain Nominated [21]
Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award Jesse Eisenberg Won
La Roche-sur-Yon International Film Festival October 20, 2024 Grand Prix du Jury – Compétition internationale A Real Pain Nominated [22]
Prix spécial du jury – Compétition internationale Won
Heartland International Film Festival October 21, 2024 Humor & Humanity Award Won [23]
New Orleans Film Festival October 22, 2024 Grand Jury Award – Narrative Feature Nominated [24]
Valladolid International Film Festival October 26, 2024 Punto de Encuentro Award Nominated [25]
Gotham Awards December 2, 2024 Outstanding Supporting Performance Kieran Culkin Pending [26]
Santa Barbara International Film Festival February 15, 2025 Virtuoso Award Won [27]

References

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  1. ^ Gleiberman, Owen (January 21, 2024). "'A Real Pain' Review: Jesse Eisenberg Becomes a Major Filmmaker — and Kieran Culkin a Movie Star — in a Funny, Knife-Sharp Odyssey". Variety. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  2. ^ Rooney, David (January 20, 2024). "A Real Pain' Review: Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin in a Film That Flows From Humor to Unexpectedly Affecting Places". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "A Real Pain". Sundance Film Festival. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  4. ^ "A Real Pain". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  5. ^ "A Real Pain – Financial Information". The Numbers. Archived from the original on September 21, 2024. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  6. ^ "Ellora Torchia". Conway Van Gelder Grant. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  7. ^ Dalton, Ben (August 17, 2022). "Jesse Eisenberg to direct 'A Real Pain', will star opposite Kieran Culkin (exclusive)". Screen International. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  8. ^ Goslin, Austen (January 26, 2024). "Jesse Eisenberg's new movie A Real Pain has what Succession fans have been missing". Polygon. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  9. ^ "PRODUCTION: Jesse Eisenberg Shoots A Real Pain Starring Himself and Kieran Culkin in Poland". Film New Europe. May 26, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  10. ^ Dowell, Stuart (May 19, 2023). "Hollywood duo surprise Muranów locals after being spotted filming in Warsaw". The First News. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  11. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony; Patten, Dominic (December 6, 2023). "Sundance Unveils Packed 2024 Lineup That Includes A.I., Pedro Pascal, Kristen Stewart, Satan, Devo & Steven Yeun". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  12. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (January 21, 2024). "Searchlight Lands Jesse Eisenberg-Directed 'A Real Pain' In First Big Sundance $10M WW Deal; 'Succession's Kieran Culkin Stars In Poland Road Trip Pic". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  13. ^ Galuppo, Mia (January 21, 2024). "Sundance: Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin Movie 'A Real Pain' Sells to Searchlight Pictures". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  14. ^ "Oscar contenders as gala premieres at the ZFF". mailings.zff.com. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  15. ^ "La Seminci mantiene su apuesta por el cine independiente estadounidense". Diario de Valladolid (in Spanish). September 3, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  16. ^ Tangonan, EJ (April 2, 2024). "A Real Pain: Jesse Eisenberg's new film releases a new behind-the-scenes photo and announces a release date". Joblo.com. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  17. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 2, 2024). "Marvel Studios 2026 Title Subtracted From Release Sked, Searchlight's 'A Real Pain' Shifts". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  18. ^ "A Real Pain". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved November 21, 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  19. ^ "A Real Pain". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  20. ^ Wise, Damon (January 22, 2024). "'A Real Pain' Review: Kieran Culkin Leaves Roman Roy Behind In Jesse Eisenberg's Intimate Road Movie – Sundance Film Festival". Deadline. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  21. ^ "AwardsWatch - 2024 Sundance Film Festival Awards: 'In the Summers, 'Didi,' 'Daughters' Top Winners". AwardsWatch. January 26, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  22. ^ https://37cw8.r.bh.d.sendibt3.com/mk/mr/sh/OycXxlTDIzvGSVSjuWhkuyUz/c8gchFUhAro5
  23. ^ "33rd Heartland International Film Festival Announces Winners & Presents $60,000 in Cash Prizes". heartlandfilm.prowly.com. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  24. ^ "NOFF Awards". New Orleans Film Society. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  25. ^ "A Real Pain". SEMINCI (in European Spanish). Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  26. ^ Goldsmith, Jill (October 29, 2024). "Gotham Awards Nominations: 'Anora' Leads Pack, 'Challengers' & 'Nickel Boys' Among Group Up For Best Feature". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  27. ^ Feinberg, Scott (November 19, 2024). "Santa Barbara Film Fest: Mikey Madison, Ariana Grande and Selena Gomez Among Eight Tapped for Virtuoso Award". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
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