Lucky are those who can feel, acknowledge and accept pain in this fast-paced world. I watched the beautiful film A Real Pain, written and directed by Jessie Eisenberg, and TBH, I cannot stop thinking about it. The film stars Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin in lead roles. It revolves around the story of two cousins, very opposite to each other and their hard-hitting journey to Poland in honour of their late grandmother. The film’s screenplay, direction and performances come together to create magic on the big screen, leaving you with feelings that only a close friend will understand!
Story
A Real Pain is about two American cousins David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) who take a trip to Poland after their grandmother’s death. They take this trip to pay homage to their grandmother’s house in Poland and understand the heartwrenching history of the Jews. However, along the way, the cousins acknowledge the differences that have affected their relationship over the years and address these unresolved issues. The underlying pain and suffering of both the characters come to the surface during this trip and a week’s getaway turns into a journey of deep connection, love, understanding and exchange of pain between two brothers.
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Exceptional Screenplay
A Real Pain is a bittersweet story that also educates its audiences about the traumatic and agonising sufferings of the Jews. As Benji said, “We’re on a Holocaust tour. If now isn’t the time and place to grieve, to open up, then I don’t know what to tell you, man.” The film uses a very dark chapter from history to reflect on grief and pain. Through Benji’s character, the film argues how humans have forgotten to feel anything real, even pain. The differences between Benji and David’s characters in how they react to various situations and, in general how they live their life comes out beautifully in the writing. The story left me with so many thoughts and forced me to think if I would want to live and feel as freely as Benji or pretend to happily live a wholesome, conventional life like David. Well, the answer to this may be to find the balance between the two. The POV of Jewish descendants through Benji and David’s characters moved me.
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Characters And Performances
Kieran Culkin as Benji has my heart. In moments of silence and grief, the actor spoke a thousand words through his eyes. The charming, extrovert character of Benji who was equally dark and devoid of happiness inside was effortlessly pulled off by the actor. Kieran Culkin gave a performance that stays with us even when the film ends, and maybe more! One is left thinking if he is doing alright or about the various thoughts that must be going on in his mind. Oh, can I stop talking about the writing? Clearly, no!
Jesse Eisenberg is deserving of all the praise that he has been receiving for this film, as a director, writer, and actor. The audience is not ready for David’s monologue. He is every person who is trying to look for happiness in the conventional ways of life, but deep down, there is always something unsettling. A character that cares about a person like Benji but also envies that they cannot be him! Jesse Eisenberg’s strong screen presence makes this film a memorable watch.
Use Of Perfect Humour!
The film also has its moments of comic relief which majorly comes from Benji. The one-liners can come in the serious of situations. But well, this comedy could also be a way for Benji to deal with his depressing emotions. His love and adorable relationship with David will brighten up your face. The brothers bring out their playful side with each other like they are living their childhood again. It’s so heartwarming to watch this dynamic between the two characters.
Background Score
The background music enhances the experience of watching this film and feeling the emotions that every character is going through. It creates an eerie sense of feeling when the characters come close to the harrowing traumas of the Jews during World War II. The use of silence when the characters face turmoil is just so hard-hitting. The background score creates an environment inside the theatre that makes me feel as if I am moving at the same pace as the film.
A Real Pain starrer Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin will hit the theatres on January 17. It’s a one-hour thirty-minute film that is worth every minute. In a world where we are so used to watching action and drama, wait, watch and feel something that will shake you from within!