Anora (2024) is an audacious and wildly enjoyable comedy-drama starring Mikey Madison as the titular Brooklynite, a 20-something sex worker whose life takes an unexpected turn after meeting Ivan (Mark Eydelshteyn), the free-spirited son of a powerful Russian oligarch.
Ivan's solicitation of "Ani" as an exotic dancer, and eventually as an escort, leaves him captivated by the fiery young woman who provides the companionship missing from his otherwise abundant life. Swept up in a whirlwind of decadence and lust, Ani and Ivan impulsively fly to Las Vegas to wed—the possibility of a green card offering Ivan the opportunity to stay in America—only for news of their nuptials to reach Ivan's parents in Russia. Ani's fairytale is soon jeopardized when Ivan's handlers intervene in a desperate attempt to annul the marriage, setting the stage for a madcap race against time through New York City and beyond.
Written and directed by Sean Baker (The Florida Project, Red Rocket), Anora is a wonderfully compelling escapade replete with palpable energy and unpredictable narrative turns. Baker's film is boosted immeasurably by Madison's world-class performance, as she breathes enormous life into her complex and often frenzied role. Madison cements the film as one of the finest entries in Baker's impressive body of work—one that continues to focus on marginalized individuals/communities and social issues with genuine empathy.
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