17/34
Story
Mismatched cousins David and Benji reunite for a trip across Poland to honor their beloved grandmother
The adventure takes another turn when the odd couple’s old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history. When Benjy and David visit their grandmother’s house in Poland, the place is where Jesse Eisenberg’s real ancestors settled in the diaspora.
Benji Kaplan: That, folks, is goddamn cinema
Cited in Amanda the Jedi Show: The BEST and Weirdest Movies You (Mostly) Haven’t Seen Yet | Love Lies Bleeding (2024). I saw it at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.
Jesse Eisenberg previously did “When You’re Done Saving the World,” which was interesting, but unfortunately a bit annoying
Here, Eisenberg’s direction and script for this film shows that he has improved a lot, with many interesting and engaging characters, good dialogue, and great performances, especially from Kieran Culkin, who steals the show throughout the film. The narrative explores family history and complex bonds as each theme and exploration of the themes was handled well and was fun, emotional and engaging to watch.
There were some soundtrack choices that felt a little off
Featuring beautiful camerawork, a good soundtrack, and conversations that felt real, true, and engaging. Eisenberg’s approach to chemistry, structure and pacing was good as he created a truly compelling and personal story about family history and the true meanings of bonds and relationships.
See the full lineup for the 62nd New York Film Festival this fall
But overall, Eisenberg has perfected himself and I can’t wait to see what he can bring today.
