By Lea Vazquez
Portraying America can be a daunting task in film. As a large country, our society is an agglomeration of many different cultures, many of which barely receive representation on a big screen. Most of the time, movies based in the United States are set in big cities, which are recognized internationally from their famous landmarks, or based in fictional towns, which simplify storytelling, in which the character’s surroundings are unimportant to the plot (boring).
For Sean Baker, authenticity is his bread and butter as he specializes in making films in overlooked cities about overlooked people—sex workers. Despite this consistent theme in his work, Baker doesn’t confine his characters to their profession but instead allows it to be a small part of their complex identity. His newest motion picture and 2024 winner of the Palme d’Or, “Anora,” continues his long-spanning motif of having a story centered around a sex worker. Despite being a revisited topic, “Anora” is as refreshing as ever.
“Anora” follows Anora (Mikey Maidson), a Brooklyn-based sex worker. During her shift at a high-class strip club, she meets Yvonne (Mark Eydelshteyn), the son of a Russian Oligarch. Though first a transitional relationship, the two marry on a whim. Much to the dismay of Yvonne’s parents, who, upon hearing the news, fly to New York to pick up their defiant son and enlist the help of Yvonne’s godfather and his henchmen to get the marriage annulled.
There are many words to describe “Anora”: humorous, captivating, and distressing are some of the few that come to mind, but one word exceptionally sums up the movie—intricate. From cinematography to character dynamics and score, every choice behind “Anora” crafts a subtly complex film, leaving the audience with many layers to contemplate.
Presented as a romantic comedy, “Anora” contains elements beyond that. Through its facade of a “Cinderella story,” “Anora” serves as a class commentary, showcasing a cycle of mistreatment in which those with power dominate the person below them. Though the primary focus of the plot is Anora and Yvonne’s relationship, a storyline between Anora and a henchman, Igor (Yura Borisonov), is discreetly displayed throughout the runtime, highlighting an unsaid connection between the two characters, whose line of work force them into positions of commodity against their will; leading up to an uncomfortable, yet effective ending that offers a great deal of insight into Anora’s character.
All the actors’ performances are superb, but Madison’s performance of Anora is breathtakingly perfect. Tough yet sensitive, Madison’s performance is electrifying as it is multifaceted. Representing a young girl who has been consistently objectified due to her profession; there is an apparent struggle to understand how to receive something she profoundly desires: to be valued. Madison’s delivery of her lines adds an extra punch to her character’s mouth full of venom, which serves as one of her few defense tools.
Despite the multiple topics this film explores, the 2 hours and 19 minutes of run time fly by. Even the most extended scene, a staggering 25 minutes, keeps the audience engaged by equally frightening and humoring them. Nonetheless, the pacing of Anora is exceptional, allowing all plot points to be explored thoroughly and thoughtfully.
Beyond the pacing and themes, the visual composition is stunning. Shot in 35mm, the movie’s aesthetics feel ageless, contrary to its highly modern soundtrack, setting, and dialogue. Baker’s love for 1970s world cinema is apparent in his craft, as he embraces our contemporary culture through vibrant blues and reds, wide-shot angles, and diegetic sounds—authentically immersing the audience into the lively world of Southern New York.
“Anora” is, by all means, a product of its time. With a soundtrack including tracks from Slayyyter and Iggy Azalea, and vape pens starring as secondary characters, the movie captures the Zeitgeist of young adult culture. Nevertheless, “Anora” presents a timeless story that any audience member can resonate with. Underneath its neon color grading and electro-pop music, the film ultimately tells a story about human desire and the struggles of having those dreams taken away from you as soon as they are achieved—something that is an inevitable event in the human experience.
Undoubtedly, “Anora” is one of the best pictures to come out in 2024. Just earning Best Picture at the 50th Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards, the film’s time in the spotlight is far from over—rightfully so. Don’t be fooled by its dazzling posters and Madison’s pretty face— there is much more to “Anora” than meets the eye.