A Real Pain: A Traveller's Slideshow

A Real Pain delves into the lingering effects of generational trauma caused by the Holocaust, following two cousins on a journey through Poland as they visit sites where their family once suffered immense devastation. Tackling such a weighty subject demands a delicate balance—honoring history while crafting an engaging narrative. Jesse Eisenberg’s film largely succeeds in striking that tone, but beyond that, it struggles to leave a lasting impression.

Eisenberg’s direction is well-intentioned, clearly drawn from personal experience, but the film’s structure and execution reveal the marks of an early-career filmmaker. Kieran Culkin injects much-needed energy into the story, yet his performance—while strong—feels familiar, echoing roles he has played before. Without him, the film would feel entirely flat.

One of the film’s weaker moments is the dinner scene where Culkin’s character storms off in frustration, prompting Eisenberg’s character to immediately bad-mouth him to strangers at the table. This moment rang false, feeling more like an artificial script contrivance than an organic reaction. It seemed less about character development and more about Eisenberg using the scene as a vehicle to vent emotions—at the cost of believability.

I’ve found myself struggling with Holocaust narratives that aren’t based on true stories or don’t feel fully lived-in. A Real Pain failed to resonate, perhaps in part because I had recently seen The Brutalist, which explored similar themes with more depth. With so many powerful Holocaust-related films already out there, Eisenberg’s effort—while personal—feels unlikely to leave a lasting mark.

Despite garnering some awards attention, particularly for Culkin’s performance, A Real Pain ultimately feels heavy-handed and uninspired. It lacks the emotional weight and cinematic craftsmanship needed to stand the test of time. Instead, it’s the kind of film that, years from now, might be stumbled upon during a late-night TV scroll—engaging for a moment but quickly forgotten. Hate to say it, but at times, watching A Real Pain felt more like sitting through someone’s travel slideshow than experiencing a fully realized film.