Summary:
Anora (2024) is a raw and deeply human drama about the reality and fantasy blend in the life of a woman struggling to make sense of the brutal streets of Brooklyn. The film is directed by Sean Baker, who is known for his hard-hitting documentaries about neglected people living in the margins of society. As a social critique and character-driven drama, the film portrays contemporary issues of chronic unemployment, poorly paid work, class struggle, and intergenerational poverty. In true Baker’s style, Anora utilizes naturalistic performances and heaving cinematography to deliver great storytelling encouraging the audience to identify with the characters.
The story revolves around Anora Petrova, a Russian immigrant in her 20s who is living in Brighton Beach and works as a stripper. Anora lives in a small apartment and is perpetually behind on bills, dealing with overbearing bosses, while struggling to maintain some dignity and an existence amidst her daily grind. Anora is fiercely independent, pragmatic, street-smart, and in her quiet dreams something more. She carries the disposition of a born survivor and someone who is well aware of their socio-economic circumstances.
Anora’s life changes drastically when she encounters Vanya, the estranged son of a Russian oligarch. Unlike her usual clients, Vanya is endearingly capricious. Hence, their interaction develops not as a business arrangement, but rather a sincere blend of confusion and connection. Effervescing from the confines of a wealthy family’s expectations, Vanya is captivated by Anora’s authentic demeanor. To Vanya, Anora is not merely a means to an end. For Anora, Vanya means more than a chance at escapism. He represents a different life and perhaps romance, albeit cautiously.
From late-night chats at buzzingly bold diners to bold love proclamations, the couple gets engrossed into Vanya abstraction of whirlwind experiences. Anora is swept off her feet to bask in exemplary hotel suites and dine at luxury-level restaurants. All while catching a glimpse into the realm of privilege he comes from. To Anora, this is far more than sheer amusement. It marks a significant milestone of her life that Anora has always dreamed of.
But, no fairy tale is everlasting. Vanya’s glamourous family comes to New York with the intent of ‘resolving’ their relationship and not in a supportive way. This becomes a very entertaining event as it simultaneously brings out scratches of dark and absurd humor from different cultures, social classes, and their norms. Anora happens to be one of those people who build a facade ever so carefully. In this situation, the surprising twist is she no longer is in control of that facade. In fact, control shifts to a catastrophic system that serves as the fundamental cause of her breakdown.
The family, with Vanya’s calculating mother and legal vultures heading the pack, are on a mission to put a stop to the connection for good. Their solution? Offer Anora ludicrously, and increase payments so that she will literally walk away. Such determination to Vanya’s family only signals lack of awareness as they fail to understand Anora’s reinforced spirit along with self-respect. Rather than succumbing to pressure, they are confronted not just with her resilience but with Anora’s deep rooted mental hatred towards the prejudices and fears they brought.
Anora remains level headed, so far avoiding a collapse into channel melodrama; as tension simmers. The film instead chooses to embrace quiet, more human moments—a chat between friends where Anora shares her existential doubts, lovers gently unpacking feelings secretly and surrendering to streams of thoughts capturing the hardships of chasing a dream—but often feeling like the game is rigged.
In its final act, Anora presents an emotionally rich resolution. Staying true to the film’s grounded nature, it does not provide a neatly packaged ending. Anora reclaims her agency by making a choice that frees her from the confines of wealth and power surrounding her. The closing scenes are bittersweet, overflowing with loss and liberation. As bittersweet as it is, the ending serves as a reminder that oftentimes, freedom comes at the cost of one’s self.
Anora is more than just a romantic or class conflict story; it’s a tale about self-discovery. It follows a woman who tries to carve out her place in a world that tries to dictate her value. It explores the strength required to choose your own path when there is unrelenting external pressure urging you in a different direction.
Cast & Crew
Intimate character-driven narratives come to life thanks to the outstanding cast and creative team behind Anora.
Mikey Madison as Anora Petrova
Madison appears to deliver what many will consider a career-ending performance. As Anora, Anora’s tough and vulnerable sides pull him in different directions. Madison deeply layers the character to turn Anora into a functioning person instead of some generic trope. She captures humor, grit, and a quiet longing which grounds the film and makes every scene feel real.
Mark Eidelstein as Vanya
Eidelstein brilliantly portrays Vanya, a character that is both a complex son of privilege and a troubled romantic. His chemistry with Madison flows effortlessly, and so their romance feels both moving and real, even in the short time they spend together.
Irina Baranova as Irina Volkov, Vanya’s Mother
The role of Vanya’s dominating Mother is wonderfully executed by Baranova. She personifies the social predator that might destroy Anora’s fragile happiness with terrifying precision driven by a fierce desire to protect her family’s reputation.
Sebastian Sozzi as Mikhail, Anora’s confidant
Sozzi provides us one more grounded performance as Anora’s loyal friend and fellow survivor of Brighton Beach. Sozzi’s character gives emotional weight and further dimension to Anora’s life.
Director:
Sean Baker
Once again, Baker showcases his outstanding ability to portray stories about characters living on the fringes of society. He does not pass his judgment on them, instead understanding and adapting his gaze toward empathy and complexity. True to his form, Anora comes alive with verite lighting, moving cameras, and a documentary style that makes everything feel immediate.
Screenwriters:
Sean Baker and Chris Bergoch
Wit and heartfelt sadness alongside unapologetic authenticity overflow in the script written by frequent collaborators Baker and Bergoch. The two capture the distinct voices of these characters, enabling the audience to invest themselves profoundly into the characters’ arcs.
Cinematography:
Drew Daniels
The cinematography of Daniels is unique, switching from wide to close up shots. He captures Brooklyn’s grungy textures and Manhattan’s squeaky clean elite spaces, two areas that serve great purpose within the film, reinforcing the theme of class disparity.
Music Composer:
Matthew Herbert
The story’s emotional streams are captured wonderfully on the soundtrack by Herbert. The delicate use of electronic beats interlaced with melody serves Anora well to bring about her turbulent journey adding to the film’s tension and quiet moments of reflection.
Despite its shortcomings, Anora has been praised since release achieving a firm score of 7.7 on IMDb, testament to the film receiving both critical acclaim and audience appreciation. Critics pointed out working class struggles portrayed as stereotyped, alongside nuanced characters that avoided clichéd.
Mikey Madison’s performance, in particular, has been touted as the movie’s best asset. Many critics have noted that she brings authenticity along with an impressive emotive range, delivering to the narrative. Reviewer Sean Baker described the direction as sensitive yet strong, refreshing portrayals of urban survival with bold and profound empathy.
The film’s reception was positive following its grounded depiction of romance, noted for lacking fairy-tale resolutions and employing something more sincere and relatable. The Brooklyn immigrant experience and class conflict have also received praise for their realism.
Though there were some viewers who preferred Anora to have a more traditional romantic resolution, most appreciated the commitment to self-reliance and personal agency. The film has prompted conversations around feminism, socio-economic inequality, and the real lives of people who exist within the social periphery of the city.
Anora is a striking example of independent cinema—intimate and urgent in a humanistic way. The film reminds its audience that even in the worst situations, pursuing one’s dignity and self-determination is a battle worth fighting, which is made possible through its vivid characters and unapologetic narrative. Once again, Sean Baker illustrates that some of the most powerful stories are not found in fantasy, but rather the raw reality of everyday life.
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