12/44
Chronology
Anora, a young sex worker from Brooklyn, spontaneously meets and marries the son of an oligarch
When the news reaches Russia, his fairytale is in jeopardy when his parents travel to New York to annul their marriage. Mikey Madison reflects on the roles that shaped his path to Anora, from “Better Things” to “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood” and “Scream.” At the Cannes Film Festival press conference, Mikey Madison said that director Sean Baker would role-play various sexual positions with his wife, producer Samantha Quan, to show the actors what he wanted from them.
Referenced in Close-Up: Anora (2024)
The setup is attractive. The title role is played by Mikey Madison, a lap dancer from New York. Then the story hooks us.
There is one standout performance from Madison, but all the performances are good
She unwisely marries (the immature son of a Russian oligarch) and then finds herself in a terrible situation. Excessive nudity and sex are unfashionable for a popular film, but both this film and the intense, increasingly comedic drama have a rare vibrancy. Impressive locations too – Las Vegas and Coney Island out of season are expertly captured.
The bottom line is not a disappointment
At over two hours, it’s very long, but almost holds our attention because we can’t imagine how it will end. Screenings at the London Film Festival were sold out and I’m not surprised. That’s something dynamic from a fearless director.
