Benji (a brilliant Kieran Culkin) could be a real pain — unfiltered, emotionally erratic, and prone to public outbursts. Meanwhile, his cousin — and childhood best friend — David (Jesse Eisenberg) is uptight, neurotic, yet socially well-behaved.
In the Oscar-nominated comedy-drama A Real Pain, the two American-Jewish cousins reunite for an emotionally charged pilgrimage through concentration camps and historical sites in Poland, with the main goal of visiting their recently deceased Grandma Dory’s former home. A Holocaust survivor who immigrated to America, Grandma serves as the link to their shared past.
Eisenberg, who wrote and directed this snappy 90-minute exploration of mental health and the third-generation Jewish immigrant experience, attempts to break the stigma surrounding a difficult kind of mental disability.
Through Benji, Eisenberg presents an empathetic portrait of depression (or possibly borderline personality disorder — the film never specifies, and it doesn’t matter). His symptoms manifest in abrasive, shocking and embarrassing ways, making him a difficult and deeply troubled man.
By placing the duo in a group tour through Poland, Eisenberg contrasts their opposing personalities in an already challenging setting — a journey through sites marked by the horrors of the Holocaust.
Channeling Woody Allen’s filmmaking style, the film balances dark humor with introspection, with Eisenberg’s writing excelling in group interactions (he nabbed an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay). His sharp eye for personalities, personal triggers and differing responses to adversity (particularly Benji’s instability) enriches the character dynamics.
The tourist group is an eclectic mix: a Rwandan genocide survivor who converted to Judaism (Kurt Egyiawan), a grieving middle-aged divorcée (Jennifer Grey), and a retired couple (Liza Sadovy, Daniel Oreskes), all led by an affable tour guide (Will Sharpe).
These characters serve as narrative tools, highlighting Benji and David’s complex bond — one built on love but burdened with resentment, trauma and nostalgia. And as the story unfolds, we glimpse their childhood and how Grandma Dory favored Benji.
Beyond exploring cultural identity, A Real Pain, again, ultimately centers on a universal issue: mental health. Why do some people struggle to function in a socially acceptable way? Because mental illness doesn’t affect everyone equally. Even the Rwandan genocide survivor appears more emotionally resilient than Benji.
Eisenberg contrasts David, who has a stable life in New York City, with Benji, who is aimless and struggling in Binghamton. The three-hour distance between their homes has contributed to their emotional disconnection, making their reunion on this trip all the more revealing. And for Benji, loneliness is so crushing that the only solace he finds is being surrounded by strangers in crowded airports.
While the film evokes sympathy, it merely scratches the surface of its weighty themes. The brisk runtime leaves little room for deeper emotional investment in the characters. Despite Culkin’s remarkable performance, the film occasionally feels flat —eliciting pity for Benji and David but not forging a profound emotional connection.
Still, Eisenberg captures a painful reality: David represents those who feel powerless in the face of a loved one’s suffering. And Benji — brought to life in an exquisitely layered performance by Culkin (which earned him an Oscar nomination) — portrays the harsh truth that sometimes, no one can save you — not even your loved ones.
3 out of 5 stars In its second week at Ayala Malls cinemas