One of the best films of the year: what the drama "A Real Pain" is about and when it will be released

Yulia Poterianko News25.01.2025 15:02

A scene from the movie "A Real Pain". Source: Searchlight Pictures

At the recent Golden Globes ceremony, actor Kieran Culkin received an award for his supporting role in the movie "A Real Pain." The tragicomedy, which is also in the running for a couple of BAFTA statuettes and a Critics' Guild Award, is already being called one of the best films of the year.

Soon, the film will be available in Ukrainian cinemas. OBOZ.UA explains why you should pay attention to this movie.

The film was written and directed by popular comedian Jesse Eisenberg. His debut work, "When You Finish Saving the World," released in 2022, received mostly positive reviews.

The plot of "A Real Pain" tells the story of a short period in the life of a pair of cousins, David (Eisenberg) and Benji (Culkin). In childhood, the men were quite close, but then their paths diverged. David started a family and began to build a career, while Benji continued to enjoy his youth.

One day, they meet at the airport to go on a trip to Poland. In doing so, they must fulfill the last will of their grandmother, who had bequeathed her grandchildren to visit the sites of the Holocaust she had experienced in her youth. David takes the trip very seriously, while Benji wants to have fun. As they travel, they open up to each other more and more and uncover the essence of long-standing conflicts from the past. For both of them, the trip will be a turning point in their lives – they will return home as completely different people.

One of the best films of the year: what the drama ''A Real Pain'' is about and when it will be released

"A Real Pain" has already been called a relaxed and light movie by critics, but at the same time, it reveals deeper subtexts to the viewer. Eisenberg put part of his personal story into the script. His grandmother was a Jew of Ukrainian descent and lived in Poland. In 2008, the actor and his wife traveled to the memorable places of her life. This trip formed the basis of the script. The filming took place in Poland, and the crew visited the former Majdanek concentration camp.

"A Real Pain" will soon be available in Ukrainian cinemas. The movie will be released on February 20.

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