Written, directed and starring Jesse Eisenberg, “A Real Pain” is an honest look at reconciliation with family and historical tragedy. It shows there’s no right way to do it, only what works on an individual level. After their grandmother passes, somewhat estranged cousins David (Eisenberg) and Benji Kaplan (Kieran Culkin) join a tour of.
Making Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin the leads of a heartwarming movie about family (the non-back-stabbing kind) and self-discovery would seem counter-intuitive. But thrown together, this awkward pair is magic in “A Real Pain,” an enriching dramedy that had its world premiere Saturday at the Sundance Film Festival. A story of two cousins’ trip to Poland to connect with their late grandma’s roots, it’s one of the best movies of this year’s fest so far.
"A Real Pain," which premiered Saturday at the Sundance Film Festival, features another shockingly hilarious and emotional performance from Kieran Culkin, as co-star Jesse Einsenberg writes and directs.