Anora (2024)
Writer-director Sean Baker's new film Anora recently won the prestigious Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. While it may not be quite as good as the rapturous reception it received from critics, it's still a quality film that's worthy of discussion.
The title character (Mikey Madison) is
a stripper and sometimes escort in Brooklyn. One night, she dances for Vanya
(Mark Eidelshtein), the son of a Russian oligarch. Vanya struggles to speak
English, so he takes a special shine to Anora, who speaks decent Russian
because of her immigrant grandmother. Eventually, Vanya pays Anora to be his
girlfriend. Over the course of a hard-partying week, they become fonder of each
other and Vanya proposes. They elope to Las Vegas.
Upon their return, Vanya's parents
(still in Russia) hear the news and angrily contact their chief Brooklyn flunky
Toros (Karren Karagulian), who enlists the aid of Garnik (Vache Tovmasyan) and
Igor (Yura Borisov) in confronting the pair and demanding an annulment. When
the three henchmen barge into Vanya's mansion, Vanya runs off, leaving the
flunkies with Anora, who proves to be more than they bargained for.
At 139 minutes, Anora could use
some tightening, especially in the first act and a little in the final act. The
sex-and-partying in act one grows repetitive, but the film really finds its
stride once the henchmen show up. The sequence starting with Toros hearing
about the marriage is a masterpiece of farce. As Anora searches for her husband
with the henchmen, the character dynamics between the unlikely foursome are
interesting. A thoroughly working-class girl, Anora has far more in common with
the flunkies, especially the laconic Igor, than her husband. Much of the second
act is quite funny.
Baker's script also touches on
thought-provoking themes like how the working class is endlessly subject to the
whims of the wealthy and how reality often bears no resemblance to people's
dreams. It's more complex than the Pretty Woman/Cinderella riff the
trailers are passing it off as. And the movie's tour through Brooklyn's Russian
enclaves shows viewers a side of New York City they don't often get to see on
film. Anora has a vivid sense of place.
Mikey Madison will likely garner Oscar
consideration as the title character, and she indeed turns in a memorable
performance. But the supporting roles are also well-played here, too. Borisov
in particular makes a strong impression as Igor. He often is just observing the
chaos around him, but Borisov manages to be very expressive while also being
very still, which is quite hard to do.
Anora may not be perfect, but
it's a movie likely to linger in viewers' heads after they watch it.
