Jesse Eisenberg’s second directorial feature A Real Pain made its premiere at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, with Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin playing cousins who take an organized trip to Poland after the death of their grandmother. They both approach this commemorative tour differently as their proximity to their family history becomes all too vivid and real.
Awards Buzz spoke with Eisenberg about his family’s experiences and what made him want to make this film. Watch the video above to hear his take on casting a non-Jewish actor to play his cousin and other key notions of authenticity and universality.
A Real Pain is currently playing in theaters.
