[Quick Summary: To honor their grandmother, two opposite cousins go on a Holocaust tour of Poland.]
PROGRAMMING NOTE: For this year's 2025 Oscar roundup, I'm going to feature my single favorite line from each of the
10 scripts.
Actor/writer/director Jesse Eisenberg began this story as a play with one character, another play with the other character, then a short story with the two characters.
His playwriting bent is evident in the emphasis on dialogue and few actions.
However, there was one action line that was very cinematic and deeply subtextual:
- In previous scenes, we learn that David is the responsible cousin. Benji is the irresponsible one. James is the tour guide.
- Benji accuses James of spitting out facts and figures, not real stories that connect.
- James thanks Benji, as Benji and David are about to leave for the last leg, on their own, to go see their grandmother's house.
- This line shows James finally connecting with Benji. It's also a really great image of what David and Benji are also trying to do.
INT. LUBLIN HOTEL - DAY
...With James' mop of hair buried in Benji's arms, it almost looks like Benji is hugging David.
WHAT I'VE LEARNED: I was impressed that this one image contained so much more subtext than what we see.
However, it only makes sense in the film because it relies on previous context. As a still image, a random viewer might not understand the dynamics.
A Real Pain (2024)(final draft)
by Jesse Eisenberg
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