Anora

1. In Theaters : 
2. Anora

The Reel Review

A-

A Brooklyn sex worker finds her world turned upside down after she meets, and impulsively marries, a young Russian visitor to the city who turns out to be the son of a prominent Russian oligarch. Mikey Madison stars in this romantic dramedy from director Sean Baker (Red Rocket, The Florida Project).

In what is certain to be a career-defining and quite possibly an Oscar-nominated performance, Mikey Madison (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Scream) chews up the scenery in this clever dark comedy which immerses the viewer into the world of sex work, strip clubs, super wealthy Russians and their security goons. Anora, who goes by Ani, embodies New York City – she is brash, fearless and spunky as hell. Yura Borisov (Compartment No. 6) is also a standout among the colorful cast as Igor, the henchman who starts to have feelings for Anora amidst all of the often-hilarious chaos.

At two hours and 19 minutes, Anora could have benefitted with about 20 minutes of editing, but even so, the riveting story is an original, unique and fascinating slice of life on the fringes of American society, culminating in a wild yet totally realistic finale. Anora is Sean Baker’s best film yet.

REEL FACTS

• Anora is the first American film to win the Palme d’Or, the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival, since 2011’s The Tree of Life, and the fifth Cannes win in a row for film distributor Neon.

• Writer/director Sean Baker says he and his wife were captivated by Mikey Madison’s performance in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, deciding that she had to be their Anora after seeing her in 2022’s Scream.

• Karren Karagulian, who plays the head henchman Toros in Anora, has appeared in all of Sean Baker’s last four films – Tangerine, The Florida Project and Red Rocket.