23/23
Plot
Mismatched cousins reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother
The adventure takes a turn when the odd-couple's old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history.. When Benji and David visit their grandmother's home in Poland, the location is where Jesse Eisenberg' s real-life ancestors settled in diaspora.. Benji Kaplan: We stay moving, we stay light, we stay agile.David Kaplan: Yeah.Benji Kaplan: The conductor’s gonna come through, taking tickets, we tell him we’re going to the bathroom.David Kaplan: Bathroom.Benji Kaplan: He gets to the back of the train, he starts heading towards the front looking for stragglers.David Kaplan: Sorry, we’re the stragglers?Benji Kaplan: Yeah.
We should not have to pay for train tickets in Poland
By the time he gets to the front, the train’s gonna be in the station and we’re home free.David Kaplan: This is so fucking stupid. Tickets are probably like twelve bucks.Benji Kaplan: It’s the principle of the thing. This is our country.David Kaplan: No, it’s not, it was our country.
Featured in CBS News Sunday Morning: Episode #4644 (2024)
They kicked us out ’cause they thought we were cheap.. I saw this film at the AFI film festival in Hollywood last week. By the time I got to this film, I was suffering from a bit of filmgoing overload, and chatting with someone in the audience before the film began, I almost forgot what I was I was going to see!
But I was so glad I got to see this one!
As you know from the synopsis, Jesse Eisenberg wrote, directed and stars in this great film about 2 cousins' journey to Poland to see the land of their beloved grandmother. Eisenberg perfectly plays a role that he seems made for – an uptight, nervous and dedicated family man who always wants to do the right thing. Joining Eisenberg is Kieran Culkin who plays the polar opposite of Eisenberg – he is garrulous, open, and willing to break the rules, much to Eisenberg's chagrin.
So, I highly recommend you check this one out as soon as you can
Culkin's character easily makes friends with his fellow travelers and guide – again much to Eisenberg's amazement (and sometimes annoyance). The story itself is very involving, and you will find yourself wanting to join them on their tour. Culkin may be in the running for an Oscar on this one and Eisenberg may get a nomination for screenwriting and/or direction.