Let me start by saying this—I went into “Anora” with zero expectations. Unlike my experience with “The Brutalist,” I didn’t come loaded with preconceptions about what I was about to watch. And legit hallelujah for that, because Sean Baker’s Palme d’Or-winning film hit me like a freight train of emotions I wasn’t prepared for. If you are unfamiliar – you soon will be because Anora is about to hit the Oscars like a ton of bricks.
The Unexpected Roller Coaster
“Anora” follows the whirlwind romance between Anora (Mikey Madison), a Brooklyn sex worker and stripper, and Vanya (Mark Eydelshteyn), the entitled son of a Russian oligarch. What begins as a fairy tale quickly spirals into chaos when Vanya’s parents discover their impromptu Las Vegas wedding and dispatch handlers to annul the marriage and retrieve their son. It sounds like the premise of a raunchy comedy right? Or maybe an idealist – LOVE CONQUERS ALL ODE – but Baker transforms it into something far more profound.
The first act lulls you into thinking you’re watching one type of film—lighthearted, even comedic at times—before pulling the rug out from under you. By the time Vanya’s parents’ enforcers arrive, the tone shifts dramatically, and you realize you’re in for something much more complex than a simple rom-com. The path goes in the decided direction of Green Room, or maybe Blue Ruin? It’s violent realism that is being served up here.
Performance That Demands Recognition
Mikey Madison’s performance as Anora is nothing short of revelatory. She brings such raw authenticity to the role that there were moments I forgot I was watching a performance at all. Madison was required to not only embody a false Brooklyn accent, but also to speak in Russian as well. But better, it’s her character that embodies this out of control resilience in the face of constant dismissal and objectification. The brilliance of her performance is that Madison never lets Anora become an objectified one-dimensional victim. Instead, she’s fierce, funny, and deeply human—a woman fighting for agency in a world determined to completely overlook her.
Mark Eydelshteyn’s portrayal of Vanya is equally compelling, capturing both the privilege and the profound loneliness of wealth. The chemistry between the two leads feels genuine and unpredictable, making their impulsive marriage seem not just plausible but almost inevitable.
Brooklyn Through Baker’s Lens
Sean Baker’s direction is masterful, bringing Brooklyn to life in all its contradictory glory. The cinematography captures both the glossy high-rises of Manhattan visible across the water and the gritty reality of working-class neighborhoods. The contrast between Anora’s world and Vanya’s expectations creates a visual tension that mirrors their relationship’s precarious nature.
Unlike “The Brutalist,” which I mistakenly believed was based on a true story, “Anora” makes no such claims. Yet ironically, it feels more authentic than many biopics I’ve seen. The characters make messy, imperfect decisions. Conversations meander and repeat in the way real arguments do. Moments of tenderness are juxtaposed with casual cruelty.
Baker’s script doesn’t offer easy resolutions or pat life lessons. Instead, it presents a slice of these characters’ lives with all their complications and contradictions intact. The result is a film that resonates with emotional truth, even if the specific circumstances are unfamiliar to most viewers.
American Dream Deconstructed
At its heart, “Anora” is a film about the modern American Dream—its promises, its limitations, and the people ground up in its machinery. Anora represents those striving for upward mobility in a system stacked against them, while Vanya embodies the foreign capital that increasingly shapes American economics while remaining fundamentally detached from American life.
The clash between these worlds provides the film’s dramatic tension, but Baker avoids simplistic political messaging. Instead, he lets the human story take center stage, trusting viewers to draw their own conclusions about the social structures that constrain his characters.
Final Thoughts
“Anora” isn’t always an easy watch. There are moments of discomfort, heartbreak, and frustration that will challenge viewers. The film was shot guerrilla style, in real locations and with real diners in the background… and it gives the film a crazy level of gravitas that most films lack. And its because of this grittiness, and this emotional complexity that makes the film so powerful. Days after watching, I found myself still thinking about Anora, wondering what happened to her after the story ended—a testament to how fully realized Baker’s characters feel.
If you’re looking for conventional entertainment, “Anora” isn’t for you. But if a gritty, torrid, rip-roaring collision with reality is what you are hoping for then Anora is definitely for you. And if you’d like a few other movies like Anora, along with The Green Room, Blue Ruin, and I’d also throw in Strange Darling as well. Like these other films, Anora knows that if you’re willing to embrace a film that prioritizes emotional authenticity over narrative tidiness, you’ll find it deeply rewarding. Unlike my experience with “The Brutalist,” where I felt slightly misled by my own expectations, “Anora” delivers exactly what it promises: a raw, honest exploration of human connection in all its messy glory.
Edited by: CY