This week on Cinemaholics, Jon Negroni and Will Ashton take a real hard look at Jesse Eisenberg's A Real Pain, a film tackling generational trauma, identity crises, and the age-old question: are we in a Kieran Culkin Kierannaissance? We chat about its awards buzz, a Holocaust scene that's somehow pivotal and memorable, and the performances that make all the pain worth it. Plus, we break down the movie's balancing act between humor and heavy themes.

A Real Pain was directed, written, and produced by Jesse Eisenberg. The cast includes Eisenberg himself, alongside Kieran Culkin, Will Sharpe, Jennifer Grey, and others, with Emma Stone and Dave McCary serving as producers under their Fruit Tree banner. Premiering at the Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2024, the film later saw a limited theatrical release in the United States on November 1 through Searchlight Pictures. It has a 90-minute runtime.

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Synopsis for A Real Pain:

Mismatched cousins David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved