Jesse Eisenberg, an acclaimed actor, recently bagged the Indie Star Award at the American Film Festival in Poland. During the festival, he interacted with the local audience and shed light on his second directorial venture, “A Real Pain.”
Reflecting on his journey, Eisenberg stated, “Two years ago, I was in the final stages of scripting. It was a humbling experience to approach producers and convince them to finance the movie. When asked to summarize the film, my response was always the same: ‘I aim to create an American indie film set in Poland.’”
Eisenberg, having been a part of and an admirer of American independent films did not want to replicate the typical American ‘buddy movie’. He intended to create a unique narrative, focusing on two individuals exploring their history against the backdrop of Poland’s splendid landscape. He believed that there could be no better audience or film festival to showcase this movie.
VIP+
The film “A Real Pain,” is an exploration journey of two cousins, played by Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin, visiting Poland to delve into their family history and commemorate their late grandmother. The film also stars Will Sharpe, Jennifer Grey, Kurt Egyiawan, Liza Sadovy, and Daniel Oreskes.
Popular on Variety
Urszula Śniegowska, the festival director, praised Eisenberg’s significant contribution to the film industry through his talent and commitment. She commented that his versatile performances have created a lasting impact, inspiring generations to come.
Śniegowska further added, “Eisenberg’s career is marked by a diverse range of roles, in-depth performances, and fearless character exploration. He first caught our attention with his brilliant performance in ‘The Squid and the Whale,’ establishing himself as an actor capable of portraying complex and nuanced characters.”
She also mentioned his roles in “Adventureland,” “Zombieland,” and “The Social Network,” where he played Mark Zuckerberg. However, she believes it’s his dedication to independent cinema that sets him apart. His films like “Night Moves,” “The Art of Self-Defense,” and “Sasquatch Sunset,” demonstrate his ability to deeply explore characters living on society’s edges, presenting thought-provoking narratives for the audience. This is probably why fellow actor Vanessa Redgrave praised Jesse Eisenberg for his ‘inquiring mind.’”
“Whether on screen or behind the camera, Jesse’s work reflects a truth that’s sometimes uncomfortable, often hilarious, and always deeply affecting,” said Śniegowska.
In the past, the Indie Star Award has been bestowed upon John Waters, Jerry Schatzberg, Todd Solondz, and “Aftersun” producer Adele Romanski.
During a Q&A session moderated by Variety, Eisenberg, who has recently acquired Polish citizenship, discussed filming “A Real Pain” in Poland and his family history.
“My grandfather was born in the U.S., but his cousins and uncles lived in [Polish town] Krasnystaw and they all died in horrible ways. He never told my father about it. I am a third-generation American Jew, I don’t know anything about history, but I became obsessed with it. Now, I have Polish citizenship,” he said.
“My hope with this movie is that everyone from any country is watching it, thinking: ‘I want to do the same thing. Why have I never asked my parents where they’re from, or where our name comes from?’ I hear this a lot from people.”
Originally, he was working on a story set in Mongolia – “The characters were going to live in yurts and it was pretty funny” – but a certain online ad changed it all.
The ad stated, ‘Auschwitz tours – with lunch.’ Struck by the oddity of this tragic tourism concept, Eisenberg replaced his Mongolia script with a new one centered around his initial visit to Poland in 2008.
He confessed that his characters often struggle to emotionally connect with what they’re witnessing, a sentiment he personally felt.
“I remember feeling: ‘There’s nothing I can do to make myself connected
Credit: variety.com
