Famed indie writer and director Sean Baker doesn’t care about sex. On social media, enthusiasts clamor for the absence of love scenes in the media. In the political sphere, bedroom behavior and identity have become a topic of fear-mongering. But Baker doesn’t care about such ascetic stigma, instead making a string of critically acclaimed films that offer boldly casual, yet deeply human, portrayals of sex work in America.
His most notable works include: tangerine, The multiple Gotham Award-winning series follows two attractive trans sex workers through a hectic Christmas in Los Angeles. The Florida Project, Willem Dafoe stars as Oscar-nominated supporting actress in this portrayal of a mischievous sex worker raised in the candy-colored squalor of a Disney theme park. Palme d’Or nominee Red Rocket Simon Rex stars as a fallen porn star looking for a new life with a young and innocent woman. Anora Chase Beautiful woman A dream story — a “kind-hearted prostitute” marries a wealthy white knight — ends in an unlikely Hollywood way.
Palme d’Or winner ‘Anora’ trailer teases unexpected love story
Rejecting the tropes of Holly Golightly and Vivian Ward’s prostitution films, or the shoddy thrillers that treat sex work as scandalous stage decoration, Baker has made films about Americans living on the fringes of a society that both desires and rejects them. Anora It may be his best work to date.
Anora Outrageous, sexy and funny.
Mikey Madison plays Ani in Anora.
Credit: NEON
Baker wrote and directed the film. Anora Starring Mikey Madison (Scream 5something better) (she wants us to call her Ani). When she’s not being harassed by her sister/roommate in her modest Brooklyn apartment, the twentysomething is shaking her G-string-clad booty at strip clubs and flashing a seductive smile. As with Baker’s previous work, sex work is portrayed with frankness and humor; in between lap-dance montages, Ani is shown eating dinner out of a Tupperware pot while arguing with her boss about her rights as a freelance contractor. This office heist comedy is an easy way to demystify a job that is so glamorous and so reprehensible to American audiences.
But when a cute-faced, suspiciously wealthy Russian boy offers her a sugar daddy deal, Ani soon finds a way out of this ordeal. What starts as house calls quickly escalates into a trip to Las Vegas and an impromptu wedding. But this isn’t a total love marriage for either of them. For Ani, it’s a chance to be a trophy wife to a young, handsome, rich husband who’s a lot of fun to hang out with. For Vanya (Mark Eidelstein), Ani is his ticket to a green card that will allow him to stay in the U.S. and escape the tedious demands of his oligarch parents in Russia. Not surprisingly, with such a setup, their newlywed life doesn’t last long. Soon, two sly thugs are knocking on Vanya’s New York home, demanding an explanation for rumors that she’s been mismarried.
Mafia movies train us to be prepared for violence in scenarios like this, and Baker delivers on that, but not in the way you’d expect: instead of scenes of men brutalizing beautiful, scantily clad young women (a real danger for women in sex work), Ani turns the tables and crushes them in wild, eerily funny scenes.
Far from being a scared rat, Ani rages at the intruders who try to scare her out of her dreams and get her to have her marriage annulled. What follows is a wonderfully disconcerting road-trip movie: With Vanya fleeing in a childlike panic, it’s up to reluctant Ani, her brooding Armenian brothers (Karen Karagulian and Vache Tovmasyan), and the introverted but emotionally intelligent Igor (Yura Borisov) to track down the thrill-seeking heir before his infuriated parents land on their private jet.
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Mikey Madison is a force of nature.
Anora It demands a lot from its leading actress.
Ani’s work keeps Madison’s body in constant view, capturing her every move in long shots as she performs sexy dance moves and acrobatic pole swings. The story’s emotional arc has dizzying highs and stomach-churning lows, and the stunt work includes (but isn’t limited to) the aforementioned glass-shattering, nose-broken (not hers) fight scene. On top of all this, Madison must carry the story while all the men around her behave like clowns and bullies.
All of this demands more than Julia Roberts-esque charm, and she delivers: a smirking self-awareness, sharp humor, and a vulnerability that puts you on the defensive in an instant. Madison isn’t playing Ani, she’s bringing a woman to life, from her carefully applied pedicures to her sparkly hair extensions. Ani may not look like anyone you know, but by the end of the film, you’ll know her intimately.
It’s easy to fall in love with Ani, and we’re not the only ones who think so.
Yura Borisov is amazing Anora.
from tangerineMaia Taylor The Florida ProjectBrooklyn Prince Red RocketAs with Simon Rex’s work in The Guardian, Baker has an eye for casting. In his native Russia, Yura Borisov has a significant amount of credits, and whether you know his work or not, it’s easy to see why from the moment he locks eyes with Ani. Igor has been brought in prepared for trouble, but there’s nothing aggressive or threatening about his expression. He’s no Thug No. 2, and there’s a spark in his eye that suggests he has a keen understanding of any situation he finds himself in.
Amid all the yelling, proselytizing, and drama around him, he speaks few words and softly. Steadily and subtly, he becomes a counterpoint to the other characters, quietly accepting Ani’s feelings and thoughts that they reject. The character relies heavily on physicality, with every twitch of an eyebrow, shrug of a shoulder, and flex of a finger carrying weight. As Ani begins to realize this, the film moves further and further away from the conventions of mob drama and Hollywood happy endings, and towards the path Baker should take, with a cathartic ending that’s funny, frustrating, and satisfying.
Anora Definitely one of the best this year.
The show takes audiences from the sweaty back rooms of strip clubs to the silk sheets of luxury condominiums, the dazzling neon boardwalks of Las Vegas, and the steamy Russian restaurants of Coney Island. Anora is brilliantly brought to life. Madison is the shining star, her charisma absolutely palpable, wielding her Brooklyn accent like a whip to brilliantly charm or wreak havoc when necessary. The supporting cast — including Lindsay Normington as a savage rival — are brilliantly grounded in Baker’s Brooklyn-clumsy menace and reckless lust, nurturing sharp comments and sharp punchlines. But Borisov is the perfect foil for Madison, and she shines brighter under his gaze. He mirrors our growing awe of this feisty woman, in the words of another sex worker from the 2024 film: No Accepting a life that isn’t right for you.
To underscore this passionate tone, Drew Daniels’ cinematography draws us closer, looking over Ani’s shoulder as she strides onto the stage or takes on a challenge. Vibrant colors, deep reds and cool teals are set off by the refined beiges and urban greys of the surroundings, highlighting Ani as extraordinary at every moment. Anora It’s a visceral experience, where the audience becomes not just a voyeur but a part of the crew, and thus our pulse quickens, our eyes widen, and our hearts dance just like our heroes. Anora It’s bold, it’s brilliant and it offers great thrills.
Anora The film will not be screening at the Toronto International Film Festival and is scheduled for release in theaters on October 18, 2024.
