Film Review: Anora
A beautiful film that shouldn't be missed
by Tadd Mecham
Anora
five of five stars
Rating: R: for strong sexual content throughout, graphic nudity, pervasive language, and drug use
Run time: 139 minutes
Director: Sean Baker
Released: 2024
When I first read about Anora, it was constantly being compared to Pretty Woman. On the surface this makes sense. A rags to riches story of a sex worker meeting the right guy and being swept up out of a life of hardship into one of luxury is an apt description for both movies, but, again, only on the surface.
Anora (Mikey Madison) is an escort and dancer in Brooklyn, New York. One night at the club she meets Ivan (Mark Eidelstein), hailing from an extremely wealthy Russian family, and they fall in love and get married. But once Ivan’s parents hear the news they jump on a plane with the sole objective of getting the marriage annulled.
Sean Baker’s entire filmography is filled with stories of those ignored or on the fringe of society just trying to get by. His trademark is a measured lack of polish in the storytelling and it always feels like we are being given the opportunity to view real people going through real things.
This is an intimate film. The performances are authentic in a way that feels like you could bump into these people on the street. Mikey Madison is both hilarious and very moving as Anora and her portrayal doesn’t gloss over the character’s rough edges. Anora isn’t defined by what she does for a living and has incredible depth and heart. I was rooting for her Cinderella story the entire runtime.
Anora is affecting because it feels real. The performances, the dialog, the casual camerawork, and the rambling nature of the narrative all allow us to view Anora’s perspective without anything else getting in the way. Few other filmmakers can produce art that is so authentic and life affirming. It’s a beautiful film that shouldn’t be missed.