S04E01: A Real Pain: Cousins, Heritage, and the Weight of History

**Host:** Alex First
**Guest Critics:** Peter Krause
**Episode Summary:**
In this engaging episode of First on Film & Entertainment, Alex First is joined by Peter Krause to dissect the latest cinematic offerings, including Boxing Day releases and New Year's Day premieres. Kicking off the conversation is *A Real Pain*, a film directed by Jesse Eisenberg that follows two cousins on a poignant journey to their grandmother's childhood home in Poland. The critics share their contrasting views, with Alex finding the film dull and lacking depth, while Peter appreciates its psychological nuances and character development, particularly praising Kieran Culkin's performance. The discussion then shifts to *All We Imagine is Light*, a heartfelt portrayal of three women in contemporary India, which both critics commend for its feminist perspective and beautiful storytelling. They also dive into the animated adventure *Sonic the Hedgehog 3*, with Alex enjoying its vibrant chaos, while Peter finds it overly silly and lacking substance. The episode wraps up with a look at *Paddington in Peru*, where Alex revels in its charm and creativity, contrasting with Peter's critique of its departure from the beloved franchise's roots. Finally, they explore the atmospheric horror film *Nosferatu*, where Alex expresses disappointment in its convoluted narrative, while Peter offers a more favourable take on its psychological horror elements. With lively debates and diverse film reviews, this episode is a must-listen for film enthusiasts.
**Highlights:**
- **A Real Pain:** A contrasting critique of Jesse Eisenberg's film, exploring themes of family legacy and psychological depth.
- **All We Imagine is Light:** A commendation for its feminist storytelling and rich character development set in contemporary India.
- **Sonic the Hedgehog 3:** A lively discussion on the animated franchise's latest instalment, with differing opinions on its appeal and execution.
- **Paddington in Peru:** A look at the beloved bear's latest adventure, highlighting its charm and the critique of its narrative direction.
- **Nosferatu:** A debate on the effectiveness of this horror film's storytelling and character portrayals. Tune in for a dynamic exploration of film and entertainment, and prepare for more insightful discussions in the coming weeks!
00:00:00 - First on film and entertainment. Also looking ahead to what has just been released on Boxing Day
00:00:41 - A Real Pain opens Jewish International Film Festival and then gets general release
00:01:53 - The film is about cousins making a pilgrimage to their late grandmother's Poland home
00:05:10 - Peter: I really liked the film. I think it's very well-written
00:08:28 - I thought the characters could have been developed further in this film
00:09:48 - I give the film a six out of ten for its Holocaust representation
00:13:55 - The film focuses on three women and it's an M rated film
00:16:37 - Das says Mumbai is another pivotal Persona in the movie
00:18:01 - All We Imagine as Light is a well-observed film about Indian women
00:21:50 - Peter: As a franchise this has done particularly well
00:22:18 - Peter says sonic the hedgehog 3 requires some concentration to follow
00:24:56 - Peter Carey: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is ludicrously stupid
00:28:16 - Black Dog is a Chinese drama set on the edge of the Gobi Desert
00:30:47 - Peter: I give Black Dog a seven out of ten rating
00:33:13 - Paddington in Peru is a rather rollicking adventure with the Brown family
00:36:32 - Peter thought this film diverged from the first two Paddington films
00:39:25 - Robert Eggers' Nosferatu is a horror film with lengthy running time
00:43:30 - This is the fourth version of Nosferatu, which premiered in 1922
00:46:32 - Peter Pan reviews School of Rock the Musical, based on 2003 film
00:47:40 -