Austin Film Festival 2024: A Real Pain – Eisenberg’s sophomore effort

Jesse Eisenberg’s second feature film as a director, ‘A Real Pain,’ takes a somewhat worn road-trip formula and uses it to probe deeper themes of familial tension, grief, and Jewish identity. Following cousins Benji (Kieran Culkin) and David (Jesse Eisenberg) as they journey through Poland, the film combines quirky indie beats with somber reflections on… Continue reading Austin Film Festival 2024: A Real Pain – Eisenberg’s sophomore effort

Austin Film Festival 2024: Black Dog -a slowburn Western-esque man and his dog tale

In ‘Black Dog’, director Guan Hu brings his lens to the edges of the Gobi Desert, capturing a dusty, desolate town in northwestern China where modernity and isolation clash with striking visual detail. The story follows Lang (Eddie Peng), an ex-con returning to his hometown after serving time for an alleged murder. Lang’s homecoming isn’t… Continue reading Austin Film Festival 2024: Black Dog -a slowburn Western-esque man and his dog tale