Released: 1st November 2024 (UK)
Length: 139 Minutes
Certificate: 18
Director: Sean Baker
Starring: Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn, Yura Borisov, Karren Karagulian, Vache Tovmasyan, Darya Ekamasova and Aleksei Serebryakov
Sean Baker is a versatile director who specialises in telling marginalised stories and focusing on people who are rarely given a voice. His latest film, Anora, delves into the lives of sex workers and how little control they have.
In modern New York, Ani Mikheeva (Mikey Madison) is a stripper who finds herself swept up by the immature Vanya Zakharov (Mark Eydelshteyn), son of a rich Russian family. The two quickly decide to get married in Las Vegas after a few riotous rounds of sex and drugs. It’s a whirlwind romance that brings to mind older titles like Pretty Woman. Unlike that release, Anora has no catharsis or happy outcome; the easy life burns out quickly and Vanya’s parents step in to seize control. Surprisingly the film is quite self-contained, focusing purely on a two-week period and a couple of locations in America. What matters most is the perspective; from the moment the rude awakening begins, Ani is completely stripped of her agency. Manhandled and dragged from one place to another, her voice is silenced by everyone, shattering the illusion of a luxurious union. It’s a vivid portrayal of the way women and sex workers are treated like objects with no respect. As Ani and the family handlers search for Vanya, you too will feel the tedium and lack of control. This slower pacing won’t sit well with every audience as the characters spend a while locked into single locations as the arguments become more piercing.
Mikey Madison is superb in the lead role; Ani’s smooth-talking persona gives way to loud desperation as the film goes on. Her outpouring of energy and emotion matches the narrative, a gradual realisation that she has no say in her situation. What’s most impressive is how Madison and the other actors sustain their performances over longer, drawn out scenes. The craziest scene of all takes place at Vanya’s fancy estate; with the boy doing a runner, Anora desperately tries to salvage the situation. The dialogue focuses heavily on the outpouring of stress and anger, but it often pivots to some comedic moments which blend seamlessly with the main action. Mark Eydelshteyn also does a solid job; Vanya’s painfully awkward behaviour speaks volumes of a spoiled teenager with no real-life experience. Anora’s sense of abandonment is emphasised throughout the story, especially when Vanya becomes completely unresponsive in the final act. The side characters have their moments, but when compared to the brilliant lead actors they don’t make a strong impression. A lot of emphasis is placed on one henchman named Igor (Yura Borisov) throughout the story, but the development of his character is pushed back to the film’s final moments. The stress is clearly present in Vanya’s handlers, but it would have been interesting to learn more about their connections with the corrupt family.
Despite its small scale, Anora boasts a range of techniques that highlight the contrasting lifestyles. The scenes in the club are shot with smooth cinematography and dazzling lights; the protagonist is in her element here and the same applies to the wild outings Vanya takes her on. The more graphic encounters are shot with a rapid intensity and the use of “Greatest Day” from Take That, remixed by Robin Schultz, represents the spectacular highs of decadence. It plays at the start and end of the first act while the rest of the film features no music at all, reflecting the arduous fall that takes place. As soon as Vanya exits the scene, the presentation becomes more static, draining much of the colour. With precision and a deft hand, the presentation is fully in tune with the plot.
The shrill dialogue and raging arguments may be too much for some, but there’s no denying that Anora is a well-produced film with some knockout main performances. If you’re looking for a more unique story and tone, this film will certainly oblige.
Rating: 4/5 Stars (Great)
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