Fresh Air Jesse Eisenberg Hated Bar Mitzvahs As A Kid
Jan 21, 2025
Jesse Eisenberg, an acclaimed actor and director known for films like 'The Social Network,' opens up about his new film, 'A Real Pain,' which centers on a Jewish heritage tour in Poland. He discusses the concept of tragedy tourism, sharing his discomfort with the suburban bar mitzvah culture that once made him uneasy. Eisenberg also reflects on his childhood vulnerability and the impact of theater on his identity, revealing how his mother's career as a birthday party clown influenced his artistic journey.
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Inspiration for "A Real Pain"
- Jesse Eisenberg's film, A Real Pain, was inspired by an ad for "Auschwitz tours with lunch."
- This sparked his interest in exploring tragedy tourism and the human desire for comfort amidst difficult experiences.
Defining Real Pain
- Eisenberg explores the concept of real pain, questioning whether internal suffering is less valid than physical trauma.
- He examines how modern anxieties coexist with inherited histories of survival, like his family's Holocaust experience.
Filming in Majdanek
- Filming in Majdanek required extensive negotiations due to its sensitive nature.
- Eisenberg's team worked closely with the site's academics, filming the scenes with simplicity and reverence.