Sean Baker’s Anora (2024): A Romantic Dramedy Masterpiece
This week’s film recommendation is Anora (2024). Named one of the best movies of the year, this romantic dramedy is a Sean Baker classic and will not disappoint. Mikey Madison delivers a stellar performance as Anora, a Brooklyn stripper, who navigates her complex marriage with a Russian oligarch’s son, played by Mark Eydelshteyn. Madison bursts out of the screen as a strong personality with undertones of deep pain and vulnerability. Baker continues his themes of understanding sex work and what it means to not have enough by placing Anora directly against a vision of extravagance and practically royalty.
Anora (2024)
The story follows Anora Mikheeva, who insists she goes by Ani, as she meets Ivan Zakharov at the upscale strip club where she works since she’s the only stripper who speaks Russian. Her life completely turns upside down as she gets further involved with Ivan and is faced with the infamous Zakharov family. This is a beautiful film, which has brilliantly timed comedic moments paired with heartbreaking portrayals of conflict, economic/cultural disparities, and the life of this strong and broken character.
Anora (2024)
Sean Baker continues to impress, after his masterpieces The Florida Project and Tangerine, with this intimate and yet disorienting story which keeps your eyes glued to the screen throughout, and leaves you feeling a strange sort of emptiness when it’s over.
Anora is in theaters now.
This is an excerpt from our November 14, 2024 newsletter. Love this recommendation? Discover more by subscribing to our newsletter here!