David Kaplan: Yeah
Scenario
The mismatched cousins reunite for a tour of Poland to honor their beloved grandmother, but their old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history. When Benji and David visit their grandmother’s house in Poland, it’s where Jesse Eisenberg’s Real Ancestors settled in the diaspora for 39 years. Benji Kaplan: We stay moving, we stay light, we stay agile. Benji Kaplan: The conductor comes by, he takes our tickets, we tell him we’re going to the bathroom. David Kaplan: Bathroom. Benji Kaplan: He gets to the back of the train, starts heading forward, looking for stragglers. David Kaplan: Excuse me, are we stragglers? Benji Kaplan: Yeah.
This is our country
By the time he gets to the front, the train will be at the station and we’re home for free. David Kaplan: That’s so stupid. Tickets are about twelve dollars. Benji Kaplan: It’s the principle of the thing. We shouldn’t have to pay for train tickets in Poland. David Kaplan: No, no, it was our country. They kicked us out because they thought we were cheap… Featured on CBS News Sunday Morning: Episode #46.44 (2024).
3 in F major Written by Frederic Chopin Performed by Tzvi Erez
12 Etudes, Op. 25, No. A Real Pain As a Polish-American, A Real Pain captivated me with its premise. Two cousins lose their grandmother and set out to visit Poland, where she came from, escaping the Holocaust. The film then hits you hard with the literal, figurative, metaphorical, and emotional definitions of Real Pain. Kieran Culkin is absolutely phenomenal in this film, playing Benji, who is so lost in the world after his grandmother dies. , that the pain erupts in ways that are heartbreaking and understandable. I connected with this character a lot because Benji clearly shows signs of bipolar disorder, which manifests itself in emotions so strong that you feel them along with him.
This movie was magnificent
He can express stupidity, sadness, intense grief, human sentimentality, joy, and frustration all at the same time. It’s dizzying, but it’s so raw and real. Jesse Eisenberg, who plays his cousin David, has his usual character of exuberant angst that’s getting tiresome. But in this movie, it works because David tends to play the role of a mirror, reflecting back to Benji what it’s like to not feel the pain. The characters play off each other well, because one feels too much and not feel it at all. It’s filled with so much emotional nuance that I want to watch it again, just to watch Benji’s body language and facial expressions again as my heart breaks along with his. The plot itself is very simple, but the most important thing is the impact on the characters. I haven’t even commented on the other characters in the film, but they’re just as important.
Go see this
Everyone interacts with Benji in a way that makes it all the more real and engaging. Phew! It’s a rollercoaster. From Alien: Romulus to Road House, take a look back at some of our favorite posters from 2024.