Anora
Is it really Best Picture worthy?
Anora dir Sean Baker
With its limited theatrical release and missing it at TIFF, I was certain I would be pirating this in a couple of months when it’s eventually released on VOD like most people (please stop with the limited releases, please). But whilst I was in Toronto for work, I was able to go to one of the very few cinemas showing it, and I’m so glad I did. This was one of the funniest cinema experiences I’ve had in a while. I went to the 12 pm showing on Friday so the screen was filled with old people and let me tell you these oldies were having the time of their lives. At first, I thought there was a laugh track with the way the audience erupted into laughter after every scene but the film was just that funny. However, below the surface is a deeply heartbreaking story that struggles to break through this comedic tone, leaving for an enjoyable film that doesn’t have much to say.
Following the same themes as Baker’s previous works, Anora gives us an insight into the unglamorous life of being a sex worker in America. We follow Ani/Anora played by Mikey Madison, an exotic dancer who falls for and impulsively marries Ivan, a young Russian nepo baby. Their relationship comes to a fast end when Ivan’s parents discover the news of their marriage, forcing the two to get an annulment. Ivan’s Godfather Toros and his two goons Garnick and Igor are sent to retrieve the newlyweds and bring them to the courthouse. That is until Ivan runs away. The majority of the film plays out with the 3 men and a semi-kidnapped Ani searching for Ivan.
I think I’ve changed my rating for this on letterboxd around 5 times, ranging from 4.5/5 with a heart to 3.5/5. I’ve settled with 4 stars but even as I’m writing this I want to bring it back down to a 3.5. There’s no doubt that this is a good film. It’s shot beautifully which is expected from a Sean Baker film and the casting choice works exceptionally well. Mikey Madison is a movie star in the making, she carries every scene she’s in, and without her, the film would simply not be half as good. I also enjoyed the performances from the supporting cast, specifically Igor played by Yuriy Borisov. There’s an undeniable chemistry between the two, and they both play perfectly between the lines of comedy and drama. A Best Actress nomination is definitely in the works for Mikey, but to say this is the front-runner for Best Picture is a complete reach.
Here’s what didn’t work for me. The title of the film is Anora and yet we learn nothing about her outside her association with the male characters. This necessarily wouldn't be a bad thing if it was marketed as such, but instead, it is being praised for its brave critique of the class system whilst showcasing sex workers with a sympathetic eye. But does the audience actually sympathise with Ani? The comedic tone that runs throughout the majority of the film downplays the incredibly tragic event that is happening to her and it felt at parts that the audience was supposed to mock her instead of pitying her. We see glimpses of her emotions as the events play out but we never truly know what is going through her head. There is a clear attempt from Baker that the audience should care about Ani in spite of her profession, but it all still felt a little exploitative, only using her character as a device to drive the plot forward. She is constantly having to fight for respect but gets nothing in return from the film or the audience. It’s not until the very final scene that we see Ani break down. And whilst this scene did make me cry, it still left a sour taste in my mouth knowing the only time we got to emotionally connect with Ani was as a result of one of the male characters. Unless you’re willing to practice observational empathy and read between the lines, all you will get from this film is a few laughs which goes against the purpose of trying to destigmatise sex work. When leaving the cinema I overheard an older lady say “what did she expect” and I think that perfectly summarises my issue with this.
Ultimately I do not think Anora is Best Picture winner worthy and honestly I’m confused as to why people think it is, especially compared to the other predicted contenders, but that’s just my opinion. Still, it made me laugh, and Mikey’s performance was incredible so I guess that's enough for me to not hate it.