A Real Pain is a 2024 buddy comedy-drama about two cousins reconnecting through a trip to Poland to honor their late grandmother.
Written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg, the movie touches on themes of grief, resilience, and heritage, blending humor and emotional depth. Here’s what parents need to know:
A Real Pain Parents Guide Review
Rating: ★★★★☆: A Real Pain is an emotional and thought-provoking drama that explores family, identity, and the lingering impact of trauma. Directed with sensitivity, the film follows cousins David and Benji on a journey to Poland to reconnect with their late grandmother’s roots and navigate their complex relationship.
David, a cautious and practical family man, contrasts sharply with Benji, a free-spirited drifter still grappling with his inner demons. Their personalities clash throughout the trip, offering moments of humor, frustration, and raw vulnerability. The tension between them reflects deeper truths about family bonds—how love and resentment can coexist, and how past pain shapes the present.
The film is grounded in its unique setting, as the cousins join a Holocaust tour group led by James, a reserved British guide. This backdrop serves as both a sobering reminder of history and a catalyst for the characters’ self-reflection. Benji’s raw emotional reactions to the tour stand in sharp contrast to its detached tone, leading to poignant and uncomfortable moments.
The highlight of A Real Pain lies in its delicate balance of humor and heartache. Benji’s inappropriate antics provide levity but also serve as a mask for his deeper struggles. Meanwhile, David’s frustration with Benji evolves into a heartfelt reckoning with his own fears and regrets. Their climactic confrontation on a rooftop, where David reveals his pain over Benji’s suicide attempt, is one of the film’s most moving scenes.
The ending is bittersweet. After their trip, David returns to his family with a new understanding of himself and his cousin, while Benji, still lost, faces his own solitude. Their relationship, marked by love and tension, feels honest and relatable, leaving viewers with much to reflect on.
Final Thoughts
A Real Pain is a touching and deeply human story. It delves into heavy themes with grace, offering a nuanced look at family relationships and personal growth. While emotionally intense, it also finds moments of lightness and connection. This film will resonate with anyone who has ever navigated the complexities of family, loss, and self-discovery.
Why is A Real Pain Rated R?
The movie is rated R for strong language throughout and some drug use. The rating reflects mature themes, including discussions about the Holocaust, death, and a character’s attempted suicide, along with over 80 uses of the F-word.
Language
The film contains about 82 F-words and numerous uses of other strong language, such as scatological terms and anatomical references. Name-calling and derogatory terms for different groups are also present. Religious profanities (e.g., “Goddamn”) and exclamations (e.g., “Oh God,” “Jesus Christ”) are frequently used.
Sexual Content
- A man compliments another man’s feet, saying they resemble their grandmother’s.
- A sexual hand gesture is made.
- A man showers, with his bare shoulders visible.
- Another man is shown lying in bed wearing boxer briefs, revealing his bare legs up to his thighs.
Violence
- The film shows a concentration camp with gas chambers, stained walls, large ovens, and containers of shoes.
- Discussions of genocide, survival stories, and the Holocaust occur frequently.
- A man slaps another man hard across the face.
- There are arguments, emotional breakdowns, and intense moments of confrontation, including a man sobbing after a concentration camp tour.
- A character pounds on a table, flings a fork, and storms off while burping loudly.
Substance Use
- Two men are seen smoking marijuana in several scenes.
- A man discusses bringing marijuana to Poland and receiving a package containing marijuana.
- Prescription medication for OCD is mentioned.
- Characters drink wine and vodka, and a man drinks beer excessively, burping loudly afterward. A woman is seen smoking a cigarette.
Is A Real Pain Suitable for 13-Year-Olds?
The film’s heavy use of strong language, discussions of sensitive historical topics, drug use, and mature themes make it better suited for older teens and adults. It may be overwhelming or inappropriate for younger viewers.