Anora (2024), directed by Sean Baker (Red Rocket, The Florida Project), is a raw, vibrant, and surprising portrait of love found in the most unlikely of places. Blending Baker’s signature cinéma vérité style with humor, emotional complexity, and cultural tension, the film dives deep into the life of a Brooklyn sex worker who finds herself swept into a whirlwind romance—only to collide headfirst with the weight of family, tradition, and power.
Mikey Madison stars as Anora, a sharp, street-smart dancer and escort hustling to survive in Brighton Beach. Her life takes a dramatic turn when she meets Vanya (Mark Eydelshteyn), a wealthy and soft-spoken young man who is the son of a powerful Russian oligarch. Their chemistry is real, their connection immediate, and in a bold move, they elope in Las Vegas—shocking everyone, including themselves.
But their impulsive love story quickly unravels when Vanya’s influential family descends upon them, demanding answers and control. What follows is a collision of two vastly different worlds: Anora’s gritty independence versus a patriarchal empire built on wealth, status, and manipulation. As the pressure mounts, Anora is forced to fight for her autonomy and love on her own terms.
Mikey Madison shines in the lead role, delivering a magnetic performance that’s equal parts defiant, vulnerable, and heartfelt. Sean Baker’s direction is intimate and electric, immersing viewers in the sounds, textures, and rhythms of working-class Brooklyn with a sensitivity that avoids cliché. The supporting cast, many with real-life ties to the environments they depict, adds layers of authenticity.
Baker continues his exploration of marginalized communities with Anora, but this time brings in sharper comedic beats, a larger cinematic scale, and a piercing critique of power dynamics in modern relationships. The film surprises with its tonal shifts—from romantic comedy to intense drama—and ultimately leaves a lasting impression with its beating heart and social insight.
Anora is not your typical love story. It’s messy, funny, tragic, and empowering. Above all, it’s a celebration of a woman refusing to be defined by anyone else’s rules.
