Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘A Real Pain’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin as David and Benji in Jesse Eisenberg’s A REAL PAIN. (Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures, © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.)

There comes a point for all of us in adulthood, where we begin to question a great deal about the universe. In that, we start to ponder upon life, and its meaning and why we are here, and why we suffer and endure. Because for the majority of our youth, we are invincible and everything seems to last forever and it is shocking to learn otherwise and gives us great pause, and this is usually brought forth… via death. For there also comes a point where we begin to lose the people we love in this life and seeing them just… disappear from our orbit is jarring and shocking and it really does put us on quite an unpredictable path emotionally, as grief takes hold.
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But in the midst of those tears and those emotions, are those thoughts, and they are important to embrace and focus upon regardless of how they make us feel, of how much they confuse us and how much they outright scare us. Because that exploration, is what teaches us the meaning of life, and well… we don’t talk about the gravity of that process and what it looks like all that often or in popular media for that matter. We find grief should be the focus, but we should look at it all, because there is so much to learn from one another and our unique experiences when we work to discover the meaning of our existence, and it just so happens… that a new film from writer/director/actor Jesse Eisenberg ponders upon such matters.

A feat that A Real Pain accomplishes, by introducing us to a pair of cousins named, David and Benji, who are vastly different individuals that are embarking on quite the emotional quest when we meet them here. In that, their grandmother, who they adored, has recently passed and in order to honor her and her memory they are headed to Poland. To learn about her life, and the trials and tribulations she endured in escaping Poland at the start of the Holocaust. To give them both perspective in this powerfully emotional time, and well, this is THAT journey. That journey of discovery where David and Benji will not only examine a life that influenced them greatly but ponder upon their own journeys and what will bring them great meaning as they forge ahead. 

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Which really is, the perfect way to explore that grandiose quest of how we find the meaning of life through death. Since this story plunges us square into the middle of that process, wherein we can see it play out in real time, and it does so, in a supremely raw manner. Which immerses us into the film immediately, since we are, have been or will be this duo. Stuck in that state of pain and worry and confusion that accompanies the end of a loved one and eager to find meaning in it all, and that in turn… allows for the film to break down that discovery process in stunning detail. In part by watching this duo think upon the life their grandmother lived and ponder deeply upon how much they never got to see. Which is a big part of the process. Since it truly opens up our eyes to what we are desperate to learn.
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Which is… what is the point of it all? Why do we suffer? Why do we hurt and lose so much? And thankfully this story explores in detail, that we do so because we can. Because we are a privileged species that can ponder upon so much and feel so much, but when we do focus upon this, and choose to… we can find so much beauty in the bittersweet nature of our existence and come to understand that meaning of life, is the moment. For they are precious, magical and teach us so much and that is why we cherish them and the memories of them. Because they are what makes life worth living and they are what give us strength and everything we need, and that is why we grieve. Because we know we cannot make more moments with a particular person, and that is why, we must live life to the fullest and create moments and do new things… as our path allows us.

But we all live in those moments, and we create such wonder within them and all of that is explored in a subtle and magnificent way, courtesy of an amazing script and amazing direction and amazing acting. Since Kieran Culkin (Benji) and Jesse Eisenberg (David) are simply electric on screen and sell the reality of this experience and its impact upon us, and all of these elements come forth to give us a powerful motion picture. One that is thoughtful, moving, and genuinely deep, and explores the human condition in a refreshing manner that few films do. Because it dares to ask some tough questions about how we find meaning and strength and that makes this a must-see feature. For this is that rare film that truly offers direction and catharsis for questions that have plagued mankind for ages.

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