Kieran Culkin Is a Mercurial Pleasure in A Real Pain

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This critique was first shared on January 26, 2024 at the Sundance Film Festival. We’re re-sharing it now in conjunction with the streaming release of “A Real Pain” on Hulu.

In a heartfelt exploration of character, “A Real Pain,” starring Kieran Culkin in a captivating role, subtly flows yet suggests a deep, enveloping darkness beneath the surface. This film, a standout from the early days of this year’s Sundance festival, was swiftly acquired by Fox Searchlight following its world premiere, and it’s easy to understand why. The movie’s unassuming charm is its greatest strength; it’s a lighthearted film with a profound emotional depth.

In a travelogue-style narrative, “A Real Pain” chronicles a journey taken by two cousins as they explore contemporary Poland on a Holocaust tour, a legacy left by their late grandmother who had longed for them to revisit the country she parted from decades ago. As they squabble and grow closer during visits to war monuments, graveyards, and the Majdanek concentration camp, it seems Grandma’s true intention may have been to help these two individuals bridge their disagreements.

Initially, it could seem unusual for a comedy to unfold in such somber settings, but it quickly becomes evident that this is part of the movie’s intent. In his role as Benji Kaplan, Culkin exhibits some of the same nonchalant acting he displayed as Roman Roy on HBO’s Succession. While there, you might have felt like strangling the annoying character; here, it quickly becomes clear that Benji is lost in the world. As his cousin Dave (Eisenberg) puts it, “I love him, I hate him, I want to kill him, and I want to be him,” illustrating his conflicted feelings. In stark contrast, Dave is a personification of anxieties, constantly preoccupied with doing what’s right out of fear of the consequences if he doesn’t.

Benji, an unpredictable character, alternates between being playful and joking one moment, aggressive and inflexible the next. He encourages his companions to participate in silly poses near a war memorial, only to scold their diligent tour guide (Will Sharpe) for providing too much historical detail during a trip to an old Jewish cemetery. When they travel by train in luxury class, Benji rebels. “We’re Jews on a train in Poland!” he shouts, moved by what he perceives as the inconsistency of the situation. Later, when they find themselves back in first class after sneaking onto another train, he tells Dave, “We deserve this.

Characters in films are often portrayed with distinct and consistent traits, but it’s impressive when performances like Macaulay Culkin’s as Benji in the movie don’t seem out of place despite his erratic behavior. This is a testament to both Culkin’s acting skills and Eisenberg’s writing and direction. As we get to know Benji better, he becomes increasingly elusive. While he’s undeniably charming, winning over airport security agents and convincing people to help him effortlessly, he’s also abrasive, unpredictable, and impulsive. At one point, Dave tells Benji, “I wish I knew what it felt like to walk into a room like you do.” However, it seems that Benji himself is oblivious to the impact he has on others because he’s so lost in his own thoughts.

Speaking of the Holocaust reference, the relationship between Benji and Dave goes beyond just two distant cousins. It’s a depiction of survival amidst immense cruelty and chaos. In other words, it shows how one can carry on with daily life despite witnessing horrific acts, as one character describes it, “ignoring the proverbial slaughterhouse to savor the steaks.” For Dave, who prefers orderliness, avoiding global suffering is practically inevitable. However, Benji, whose internal struggles are evident, cannot afford such detachment due to his own pain.

In a subtle manner, the film’s appealing exterior and gentle pacing, accompanied by popular Chopin tunes, reflect the tension experienced by the characters. At one instance, the guide encourages them to envision Lublin as a bustling town with remnants of Jewish heritage, “historical fragments emerging, yearning to be discovered.” As the guide mentions schools, councils, tailors, and shops, we observe unremarkable cityscapes: ordinary apartment buildings, vacant lanes, and street signs. It’s only from within that these locations reveal their true identities. The same can be said about people.

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2025-01-16 16:54