Jesse Eisenberg opens up about becoming a Polish citizen

nme.com:

Jesse Eisenberg has opened up about becoming a Polish citizen while discussing his new film, A Real Pain.In the film – which sees Eisenberg star alongside Kieran Culkin, Will Sharpe, Jennifer Grey, Kurt Egyiawan, Liza Sadovy and Daniel Oreskes – two cousins head to Poland to explore their family’s roots and celebrate their late grandmother.In a Q&A moderated by Variety, Eisenberg spoke about his family history and how it influenced him to make the film.“My grandfather was born in the U.S., but his cousins and uncles lived in [Polish town] Krasnystaw and they all died in horrible ways.

He never told my father about it. I am a third-generation American Jew, I don’t know anything about history, but I became obsessed with it.

Now, I have Polish citizenship,” he said.“My hope with this movie is that everyone from any country is watching it, thinking, ‘I want to do the same thing.

Why have I never asked my parents where they’re from, or where our name comes from?’ I hear this a lot from people.”The actor was originally working on a story set in Mongolia. “The characters were going to live in yurts and it was pretty funny,” he said, before explaining that a certain online ad changed his plans.“It said, ‘Auschwitz tours – with lunch.’ It’s such a weird idea, this tourism of tragedy.