SEAN BAKER | USA | 2024 | 138 MIN | ENGLISH, RUSSIAN | 35MM
In films like Tangerine, The Florida Project (PFF26), and Red Rocket (PFF30), director Sean Baker has honed a one-of-a-kind filmmaking style, often depicting those on the margins of American society through a dynamic, deeply humane lens. Baker’s latest is perhaps the greatest distillation of his talents yet, a hilarious yet emotionally resonant screwball romance that rightfully took home the coveted Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Mikey Madison is a revelation as Anora (aka Ani), a Russian-American erotic dancer who spends her nights hustling at a Manhattan gentlemen’s nightclub. There she catches the eye of Ivan (Mark Eydelshteyn), an oligarch’s son whose privileged, carefree attitude provides a breath of fresh air, as well as a chance for escape. Ani and Ivan’s whirlwind romance eventually carries them to a Las Vegas wedding chapel, but this Cinderella story nearly screeches to a halt when Ivan’s parents catch wind of the nuptials. With a trio of strongmen hot on her trail, Ani is forced to put every bit of her New York grit to good use if she wants to maintain the glittering new life she’s been thrust into. Powered by Madison’s luminous performance, Anora takes viewers on a wild ride, matching its heroine’s intensity as it careens fearlessly from uproarious comedy to clear-eyed poignance.
Cast: Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn, Karren Karagulian, Yura Borisov
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