Mismatched cousins David and Benji tour Poland to honour their grandmother. Their adventure becomes complicated as old tensions resurface while exploring their family history.
Jesse Eisenberg is the mastermind behind A Real Pain (2025), having starred in, directed and written this film Eisenberg sets himself up for endless scrutiny but I can confidently say, he exceeded all my expectations.
A Real Pain (2025) is a raw depiction of life, all the complexity and simplicity of living and existing. Eisenberg’s script concentrates on the mundane ritual of family, relationships, perception and admiration. The characters of Benji and David long for something the other one has and this dynamic throughout the film was playfully realistic and deeply meaningful.
This is a character story, a film centred around the like-ability and vulnerability of two characters and their journeys of realisation and acceptance. The film takes us on a physical adventure of travel through Poland, a historical journey of the impact of World War II and the metaphorical journey self discovery.
Eisenberg casting himself alongside Kieran Culkin was the a genius decision, without the quirky confidence of these two actors this film could have been overtly boring but with strong actors pushing along the story, it made for an emotional feature from beginning to end. Bringing me to tears one moment and having me chuckling to myself the next, A Real Pain (2025) was a film I didn’t expect to have an impact on me but it truly did.
David Kaplan, the soft, quiet and anxious cousin who envy’s Benji’s confidence but once you scratch the surface he’s far more content with his decisions. Eisenberg clashes with Culkin but in the most natural, believable way - the pair worked together beautifully and Eisenberg proved his intelligence as a writer, director and performer.
Benji Kaplan, the complex, charming, charismatic cousin who isn’t afraid to show his emotions. Culkin delivers one of his best performances to date, bringing to screen a deeply disturbed, vulnerable yet extremely likeable individual who you cannot help but connect to.
This film has left me feeling full, in the sense that I have watched an unforgettable feel-good movie. Recently, the film industry has been screaming for stories like this - a story that moves an audience and reflects the real, raw, intense emotions of everyday life. A Real Pain (2025) was an impactful piece of storytelling and I throughly enjoyed every minute. Culkin and Eisenberg’s acting styles compliment one another beautifully and delivered some of their best performances to date; the music choices, the cinematography and the performances but most of all the undeniably good screenplay at the centre makes this film unmissable.
4/5 Probe Points
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