Note for non-Czech speakers: despite being set in New York, about 30 percent of Anora is in Russian and subtitled only in Czech in Prague cinemas.
An exotic dancer finds herself in a whirlwind romance with the son of a Russian oligarch, and some serious trouble when his family finds out about their relationship in Anora, now playing in Prague cinemas after winning the grand prize Palme d’Or at Cannes earlier this year. This lengthy but entirely riveting film from director Sean Baker is one of the best of 2024, and features a star-making performance from Mikey Madison in the titular role.
Baker is best known for his fly-on-a-wall portraits of marginalized American communities in films like Tangerine, which follows trans sex workers in Hollywood, The Florida Project, which showcased the other side of Disneyfied central Florida, and Red Rocket, which was set in small-town industrial Texas.
In Anora, Baker travels to another very distinct area of the states—the Brighton Beach neighborhood of Brooklyn—to shine a light on the lives of two very distinct communities: exotic dancers working in a local strip club, represented by Madison’s titular Anora (or Ani, as she prefers), and the family and associates of wealthy Russian oligarchs who own luxury property in the area.
The first act of Anora details Ani’s whirlwind romance with Ivan Zakharov (Mark Eydelshteyn), son of an oligarch, who she meets after he requests a Russian speaker at the strip club; Ani’s past or private life isn’t delved into outside of a frigid relationship with her sister, but she knows passable Russian. A house call at Ivan’s sprawling Brooklyn estate leads to an invite to a New Year’s Eve party, and soon he asks her if she’ll go exclusive.
Ani isn’t naive, and neither are we; Baker’s film is no Pretty Woman fairy tale. But there’s some genuine human affection expressed by both parties here beyond the business arrangement, and when the idea of a Vegas marriage is introduced as a mutually beneficial partnership, even the audience buys into the fantasy that things could turn out well for both of these characters.
Anora takes a sharp left turn, however, after Ivan’s parents find out about their marriage, and what was initially a lighthearted film turns scary as Russian goons Garnick (Vache Tovmasyan) and Igor (Yura Borisov), at the behest of Russian Orthodox Priest Toros (Karren Karagulian) show up at Ivan and Ani’s door.
While the first half of Anora sets up a traditional romance that takes place over a few weeks during the holidays, its second half becomes something like Martin Scorsese‘s After Hours or the Safdies’ Good Time as the Russians and Ani both scour Brighton Beach for Ivan, who has fled from any sense of commitment or responsibility. They have only a single night to sort things out before his parents fly into New York.
Most films would portray these Russian thugs as the villains that Ani has to overcome, especially after they tie her up and pin her down, but Baker does an excellent job of humanizing these characters. Karagulian is a particular standout as Toros, whose sense of befuddlement at the situation is palpable; Borisov, as the initially imposing “gopnik” Igor, also does an excellent job at creating a nuanced character, largely through subtle body language and expression.
Still, it’s Madison who shines through Anora as a winning character who we’re continually rooting for, even as the facade of the fairy tale slowly wears away during the film’s narrative. Madison has had featured roles in films like Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and 2022’s Scream, but this one will earn awards and catapult her to stardom.
Few contemporary directors depict modern American life as vividly as Baker (David Gordon Green captured similar vibes in early films like George Washington, but has since taken his career in a different direction). The Florida Project might remain his most effective film in its portrayal of a marginalized community, but Anora is his most accomplished and accessible in terms of narrative storytelling, and deserves all the love that’s coming its way this awards season.
