Jesse Eisenberg‘s comedy-drama A Real Pain takes viewers on an emotional journey through history, family, and self-discovery. The film premiered at Sundance on January 20, 2024, before its U.S. release on November 1, 2024. It starred Jesse Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin, Will Sharpe, Jennifer Grey, and others. As a production, A Real Pain is both funny and deeply moving, and the places in Poland where it was shot are very important to understanding its themes.
A Real Pain Plot Summary
David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin), two Jewish-American cousins who don’t talk to each other much, go to Poland to learn about their family history and honor their recently deceased grandmother. The main characters in this touching and often funny adventure go on an adventure across Poland and visit important sites with Jewish history and heritage.
David is anxious and careful, while Benji is carefree and quick to act. Despite their differences, they are connected through their late grandmother’s legacy. As they travel through Poland, they see important historical sites like the Majdanek concentration camp. At the same time, they deal with their own problems and learn what family really means to them again.
Where was “A Real Pain” Filmed?
The movie was mostly shot in Poland, and the characters’ journey was shown in a number of different places. Here is a full list of the filming locations:
Warsaw
A lot of the movie was filmed in the Muranów neighborhood, close to the Jewish History Museum (POLIN) and the Warsaw Uprising Memorial. The historical importance of these places helped ground the story, showing Poland’s rich Jewish culture and the effects of World War II.
Warsaw Central Station: The busy train station was the setting for several important scenes that emphasized how temporary the characters’ journey was.
Another important site was the Warszawa Olszynka Grochowska Train Station—which showed what Poland’s large rail network was all about.
Lublin
Majdanek Concentration Camp: The filmmakers were careful when they went to this site, capturing the haunting mood of one of the darkest times in history. The production team and Jesse Eisenberg worked together to make sure that these scenes paid tribute to the victims and their stories.
In Krasnystaw, a small town near Lublin, Eisenberg has a connection because this is where his great-grandmother’s family lived before they fled in 1938. They even filmed some scenes in the apartment they left behind.
Other Locations
Plac Krasińskich: This Warsaw square gave the movie’s visual story a lively touch.
Radom: Radom, which is known for its old buildings, gave the movie’s Polish setting more depth.
It was directed, written, and starred by Jesse Eisenberg, who also said that the places were very important to him. His own backpacking trip to Poland in 2007 gave him the idea for the movie. While there, he learned about his family’s history. Eisenberg said, “A lot of the scenes were inspired by real events.” He also said that the story mixes parts of his own life with fictional events.
Eisenberg felt very emotional when he was filming in Krasnystaw and was given honorary citizenship by the town council. He was thankful for the chance to promote Krasnystaw around the world and talked about how it had shaped his family’s history.
Cinematographer Michał Dymek talked about how Poland was shown on purpose to be bright and lively, in contrast to how the country is usually portrayed as sad or empty. “Poland is warm and colorful and that’s what we wanted to show” Dymek said, pointing out how beautiful the film’s landscapes and buildings are.
Poland’s historical and cultural sites provided not only a backdrop but also inspiration for the movie’s themes. The balance between serious places like Majdanek and the lively streets of Warsaw is reflected in the film’s mix of humor and introspection. The use of real-life settings, like busy train stations and quiet towns, makes the characters’ journey feel more real.
The fact that Eisenberg has a personal connection to many of these places gives the movie more depth. For example, the choice to film in Krasnystaw gives the story a heartfelt authenticity and reminds people of how important it is to go back to your roots.
It’s more than just a comedy-drama; A Real Pain is also a deep look at family, heritage and strength. The film makes viewers feel like they are really in Poland by using the country’s rich history and beautiful scenery. Locations where the movie was shot—Like Warsaw’s historical sites and the moving Majdanek—are very important to the story’s emotional core.
“A Real Pain” Cast Details
The cast of A Real Pain features an impressive lineup of talented actors. Jesse Eisenberg stars as David Kaplan alongside Kieran Culkin as Benji Kaplan. The film also includes Olha Bosova as a Flight Attendant, Banner Eisenberg as Abe, and Jakub Gasowski as a Receptionist (credited as Jakub Gąsowski). Will Sharpe plays James, while Daniel Oreskes and Liza Sadovy take on the roles of Mark and Diane, respectively. Kurt Egyiawan appears as Eloge, Jennifer Grey as Marcia, and Ellora Torchia as Priya. Additional roles include Piotr Czarniecki as a Conductor, Krzysztof Jaszczak as a Pianist, Marek Kasprzyk as an Older Man, and Jakub Pruski as a Son.
No matter if you go to see A Real Pain for its interesting plot or beautiful visuals, it will make you think about the past and celebrate the connections that make us who we are.
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