Jesse Eisenberg Receives Polish Citizenship to Honor Jewish Heritage

In a heartfelt ceremony, Eisenberg expressed his desire to reconnect with his family's history in Poland, especially as he reflects on his ancestors' experiences during World War II.

US actor Jesse Eisenberg has officially received Polish citizenship from President Andrzej Duda, linking his personal heritage with a significant historical narrative. This moment comes in response to Eisenberg's Academy Award-winning film, "A Real Pain," which he wrote, directed, and starred in. The film tells the poignant story of two American cousins on a journey to Poland to honor their grandmother, a Holocaust survivor based on Eisenberg’s own great aunt.

During the citizenship ceremony, Eisenberg shared his evolving bond with Poland while filming. He poignantly noted, "While we were filming this movie in Poland, and I was walking the streets and starting to get a little more comfortable in the country, something so obvious occurred to me, which is that my family had lived in this place for far longer than we lived in New York." He reflected on the deep losses faced by his family and emphasized the need to reconnect with the heritage that once defined them.

His remarks highlighted a blend of nostalgia and sorrow: “In addition to that tragedy of history is also the tragedy that my family didn’t feel any connection anymore to Poland, and that saddened me and confirmed for me that I really wanted to try to reconnect as much as possible.” Eisenberg described the ceremony as a hopeful first step toward mending these historical ties.

The emotional journey to create "A Real Pain" was spurred by the passing of Eisenberg's great aunt Doris in 2019 at the age of 106, a woman who had fled Poland to escape the impending horrors of the Holocaust. Tragically, many of her family members who remained behind lost their lives.

President Duda welcomed Eisenberg's new citizenship, highlighting the importance of heritage recognition as he stated, “I am delighted that people from across the ocean acknowledge their heritage, recognize that their ancestors hail from the Republic of Poland and seek to forge a connection with our country.” Eisenberg's film also recognized critical acclaim, with the actor nominated for an Oscar for his writing and co-star Kieran Culkin winning the award for best supporting actor, further cementing the film's impactful storytelling.