41/36
David Kaplan: Yeah
Chronology
Mismatched cousins reunite for a road trip across Poland in honor of 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 place is where Jesse Eisenberg’s real-life ancestors settled in the diaspora. Benji Kaplan: We keep moving, we stay light, we stay agile. Benji Kaplan: The conductor’s gonna come by, take the tickets, we tell him we’re going to the bathroom.
David Kaplan: Bathroom
Benji Kaplan: He gets to the back of the train, starts heading toward the front looking for stragglers. David Kaplan: Sorry, are we the stragglers? Benji Kaplan: Yeah. By the time he gets to the front, the train will be in the station and we’ll be home free. David Kaplan: This is so fucking stupid.
This is our country
Tickets are probably about twelve bucks. Benji Kaplan: It’s the principle of the thing. We shouldn’t have to pay for train tickets in Poland. David Kaplan: No, it’s not, it was our country. They kicked us out because they thought we were cheap.
Featured on CBS News Sunday Morning: Episode #4644 (2024)
I saw this movie at the AFI film festival in Hollywood last week. When I got to this movie, I was suffering from movie overload, and chatting with someone in the audience before the movie started, I almost forgot what 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 movie about two cousins’ trip to Poland to see their beloved grandmother’s land. Eisenberg perfectly plays a role he seems made for: an uptight, nervous, dedicated family man who always wants to do the right thing.
Therefore, I highly recommend you watch this film as soon as possible
Eisenberg is joined by Kieran Culkin, who plays Eisenberg’s polar opposite – he’s talkative, outspoken, and willing to break the rules, much to Eisenberg’s chagrin. Culkin’s character easily befriends his fellow travelers and guide, much to Eisenberg’s surprise (and sometimes annoyance). The story itself is very interesting and you’ll find yourself wanting to join them on their journey. Culkin may be in the running for an Oscar for this film and Eisenberg may get a nomination for screenplay and/or direction.