Last Updated on October 18, 2024 by
Anora is a 2024 drama and romance movie directed and written by Sean Baker. The film stars Mikey Madison, Paul Weissman, Lindsey Normington, with a runtime of 2h 19M, and was released on October 18, 2024.
Anora is a peculiar movie about The Tender-Bee by Sean Baker, who likes to address audiences with material that many shy away from or judge people for their choices and living conditions. He has done this in his previous movies such as Tangerine, The Florida Project, and Red Rocket. Finally, in Anora, Baker revisits the theme of sex work once more but in the ‘Cinderella story gone wrong’ style.
The movie takes place in Brighton Beach, New York, and focuses on Ani, a 23-year-old girl. Ani (portrayed by Mikey Madison) is a stripper who works at a popular strip club called “The Headquarters.” One night, Ani is given a new important client to translate because she knows how to speak Russian. This is where she stands a chance to meet Ivan, a young billionaire, portrayed by Mark Eydelshteyn, who acquired his wealth from his Russian oligarch father. Ivan looks quite harmless, and therefore pretty, with a baby face and an air of dopey but sweet smile.
First, Ani maintains a business-like demeanor and wants to get paid, but gradually Ivan changes her mind. He gives Ani a good amount of money to entertain himself for a week; hence, she will not spend her time with him other than this particular week. He even takes her to Las Vegas in a private jet with his friends. Illegible to the bitter end of the week, Ivan takes a daring act of passion and says, he wants to marry her. Ani, who is carried away by the passion and this idea, also agrees, and they run into a small chapel and get married in Las Vegas.
Finally, Ani and Ivan are living a fairytale – they are young, in love, and everything is glitter and gold. But this perfect picture starts to disintegrate very quickly. Ivan, a Russian tycoon’s son, gets discovered by his dad’s bodyguards that Ivan has secretly wed a lady of the night, which is shameful under Russian standards. Out of fear of what his father will do, Ivan acts erratic and decides to leave without informing Ani. This starts a hectic quest where Ani attempts to search for Henry, as well as trying to navigate through the madness.
The beautiful and talented Mikey Madison was perfect for the role of Ani as she was a strong young woman yet still had moments of weakness. She portrays the image of a strong and smart woman but when she experiences the worst date with her ideal man, the reality check hits her. It is not Madison’s initial large part, but it is a role that could catapult her to fame.
The actor Mark Eydelshteyn, who performs Ivan, is great as well. At first, he is portrayed as a considerate person, a gentleman; however, when he is faced with pressures, he transforms into a cowardly, childish boy. Some aspects of the pair’s chemistry are palpable right away, which adds excitement and realism to their interactions. However, as the plot progresses to the horrific parts, the viewer empathizes with Ani and the restrictions she faces.
It also has a great supporting cast, such as Ivan’s godfather, Toros, Igor, and Garnick, his two henchmen. They are supposed to locate Ivan, and the duo’s interaction adds humor to an otherwise tense plot. Yuriy Borisov convincingly depicts Igor and demonstrates that there is much more to this burly action hero than initially meets the eye.
Visually, Anora is stunning. It was filmed on 35mm and presents both the rough and sensitive emotions of Ani’s experience. The cinematographer of Red Rocket, Drew Daniels, also a collaborator with Sean Baker, creates a very realistic environment as if the movie was made in the early 2000s, however, he is also able to build beautiful scenes and moments.
The script by Sean Baker was tight and did not pull any punches when it came to depicting the realities of society. Anora makes people reconsider their perspectives on sex work and those who engage in it. From this, the audience learns that they are also ordinary people with dreams, emotions, and even adversities. By presenting Ani’s experience and giving the audience no reason to condemn her, the film contributes to eradicating prejudice concerning sex workers in America.
Starting from the first fast-paced action shot to the reflective and tender final notes, Anora is a thrilling movie that never lets the viewers get bored. It is enjoyable, theatrical, and can be tragic at certain periods. It also gets into the effects of pride on the ability of people to make decisions that are beneficial to the self as well as others. Sean Baker has delivered yet another entertaining yet emotionally resonant film that has introduced audiences to new talents such as Mikey Madison.
Highly Recommended:
- Fly Me to the Moon 2024
- A Family Affair
- Find Me Falling
- Take My Hand 2024
- We Live in Time
- Un/Happy for You
Anora 2024 Parents Guide Age Rating
Anora is rated R by the Motion Picture Rating (MPA) for strong sexual content throughout, graphic nudity, pervasive language, and drug use.
Sex & Nudity: Features nudity and explicit content related to sex work, including scenes in a strip club with strippers dancing and engaging in sexualized behavior.
Violence & Gore: Includes some physical altercations and threats, particularly involving Ivan and his father’s bodyguards, with a few moments of blood.
Profanity: Frequent strong language, including multiple uses of the F-word and other vulgarities.
Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking: Depicts heavy drinking, especially during parties; drug use is implied but not explicitly shown; characters are seen smoking.
A mix of romance and tragedy; not suitable for children or younger audiences due to its mature themes and explicit content.
