A REAL PAIN

Review: Mismatched cousins David and Benji embark on a tour of Poland in honour of their beloved Jewish grandmother. During the adventure old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history.
Director: Jesse Eisenberg
Actors: Kieran Culkin, Jesse Eisenberg, Will Sharpe, Daniel Oreskes, Liza Sadovy, Kurt Egyiawan, Jennifer Grey, Ellora Torchia and Marek Kasprzyk
Year: 2024
Genre: Comedy and Drama
Conclusion: 4/5
Written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg. Jesse Eisenberg got the inspiration for the film from his own aunt Doris who died at the age of 101. When Jesse Eisenberg cast Kieran Culkin he was unfamiliar with Culkin’s work. It was apparently Jesse Eisenberg’s sister who recommended Kieran Culkin. I love the title to this film as you can look at it both ways. The first is Kieran Culkin’s character in this as he is so full of life and is a total pain. The second is the subject of what this film involves and what you are experiencing. Lovely use of Chopin which I thought worked really well for the film. Considering the subject matter etc as a whole I felt that the film felt really light. I felt I never had a heavy heart. There are two main themes in this and they are grief and family legacy. At the Academy Awards in 2025 this won 1 Oscar for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (Kieran Culkin). At the Bafta Awards in 2025 this won 2 Awards. They were for Best Screenplay (Original) and Best Supporting Actor (Kieran Culkin). At the Golden Globe Awards this won 1 Award for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture (Kieran Culkin).