Anora
Starring: Mikey Madison, Yura Borisov, Mark Eydelshteyn
Directed By: Sean Baker
Anora is the latest film from director Sean Baker (The Florida Project) following Ani, a stripper from Brooklyn who meets Ivan (Mark Eydelshteyn, a shoe-in to win the Timothee Chalamet look-a-like contest had he been present at the event.) The two begin a transactional relationship in his family’s lavish New York mansion. He pays, she sticks around. Soon, she realizes this could be her ticket to a better life. She has fun with Ivan. This relationship might actually work. He wants US citizenship. So the two get married and things seem to be going fine…until Ivan’s family hears about it. They demand an annulment ASAP. Will Anora stay married to Ivan? Or will his parents get their way?
Director Sean Baker has a way of creating films that feel like wandering slice of life tales where you have no idea what’s happening but by the end, the journey leaves a huge impact. His film The Florida Project is an exceptional example of this. It’s one of my favorite movies in recent years that left me a mess by the final moments. Anora goes down a similar path. In the first act of Anora, I wasn’t sure where we were going. It details Ani’s life as a stripper and doesn’t hold back at all. The second act of the film becomes a slapstick chase sequence through the streets of New York. (In some ways, I do think the second act could be trimmed down.) The third act is a more sobering return to reality. In many ways, this film feels like 3 very different acts weaved together by its central character.
Mikey Madison gives a real star-making performance as Ani. If you’re a Once Upon a Time in Hollywood fan like me, you’ll recognize her as Sadie. In Anora, she delivers an excellent performance where she commands every moment of screen time. She is brash and comedic with a level of sadness hiding under the surface, ready to break through at any moment.
Mark Eydelshteyn is Ivan, the young and careless rich man there to sweep Ani off her feet. Eydelshteyn portrays a deeply frustrating character who seems like a fun and aloof party boy at first glance. But as time goes by, it is clear he is an immature loser, quite frankly. As the film progresses it is obvious that Ivan has never been held accountable for his actions and it is infuriating to watch the way he treats Ani and everyone around him.
The unexpected standout of the film is Yura Borisov as Igor. He is a very stoic character. For the majority of the film he acts with just his eyes, observing his surroundings and wondering what to make of the situation. As the film progresses, we learn more about Igor. He is a fascinating character who adds so much to the movie.
There are obvious themes of misogny and classism running rampant throughout the film. Many have compared it to a modern day Pretty Woman or a darker Cinderella. Ani finds her “prince”, marries him, and lives in a mansion. Obviously, life isn’t that simple and the story doesn’t end there. It’s interesting to note how Ani is treated like an object by Ivan. He throws his money around as if it means nothing and objectifies her at every turn. He faces no implications for his actions and probably never will because of his family’s exorbitant wealth.
I feel that a lot of the film cannot be discussed without mentioning the ending. I won’t spoil it but will say the final moments of this film hit like a ton of bricks. My theater went dead silent and sat for several minutes before leaving. After all of the wild partying, neon-tinted aesthetic, and hijinks of the second act fade away, a stark grey reality sets in. The final moments put the entirety of the film into perspective. It’s a very somber moment.
Anora is a gritty tale of excess, classism, and the hope of the American dream. The film contains great performances with a star-making turn by Mikey Madison.
My Rating: 8/10