Imagine this: you, Anora, a sex worker, strike gold when the son of an oligarch falls madly in love with you. He's smitten, easy to sway, and you see him as your golden ticket out of poverty. After just two weeks of knowing each other, you get married, convinced this is your happily-ever-after. But what happens when his powerful family disapproves of the union and comes charging in to annul it? Worse still, your husband flees, leaving you to face their wrath alone. Now, that's Anora!
Anora takes you on a thrilling ride from start to finish. While the story itself isn't entirely new, the execution is fresh and utterly gripping. It's a tale of a girl determined to cling to her newfound fortune, despite having no idea how to keep it, as it slips further and further out of her grasp. It's a meet-cute born from the worst circumstances, yet one you won't soon forget. It's raw, unexpected, and brimming with a sleazy charm that feels all too real. Best of all, it's laced with sharp, clever humor that keeps you hooked.
Anora is a class commentary. It's about how the wealthy navigate relationships with those in lower tax brackets, treating them like pawns to be used and discarded, and how the poor willingly let it happen for proximity, convenience or class change. It's how the poor battle one another for the rich that don't care about them. It's about how Anora, Igor, Toros and Garnik parade the city to find a rich boy that's living his life-waiting to be swept away when they find him. But when the curtain is let down, it wraps up bittersweet-a sorrowful but hopeful resolution with a profoundly beautiful finish. It's the kind of ending that compels you to rewatch the movie, knowing it's worth every moment.
To say that Anora rides on the back of Mikey Madison would be an understatement, as she delivers an impassioned performance that's spellbinding. But Anora isn't just about Mikey Madison; it's equally defined by the performances of Mark Eydelshteyn, Anton Bitter, Karren Karagulian and Vache Tovmasyan, with special praise going to no one because they all deliver the absolute best.
The story, performances, score, editing are all tied together by Sean Baker's deft direction. The seamless way he moves between the sections of the movie with their different tones whilst maintaining a balanced pacing is remarkable.
Anora provides a story that feels like it's still unfolding just beyond the screen. It's not a film that begs for your approval, but one that demands your reflection. A must watch.
9-9.5/10.
Anora takes you on a thrilling ride from start to finish. While the story itself isn't entirely new, the execution is fresh and utterly gripping. It's a tale of a girl determined to cling to her newfound fortune, despite having no idea how to keep it, as it slips further and further out of her grasp. It's a meet-cute born from the worst circumstances, yet one you won't soon forget. It's raw, unexpected, and brimming with a sleazy charm that feels all too real. Best of all, it's laced with sharp, clever humor that keeps you hooked.
Anora is a class commentary. It's about how the wealthy navigate relationships with those in lower tax brackets, treating them like pawns to be used and discarded, and how the poor willingly let it happen for proximity, convenience or class change. It's how the poor battle one another for the rich that don't care about them. It's about how Anora, Igor, Toros and Garnik parade the city to find a rich boy that's living his life-waiting to be swept away when they find him. But when the curtain is let down, it wraps up bittersweet-a sorrowful but hopeful resolution with a profoundly beautiful finish. It's the kind of ending that compels you to rewatch the movie, knowing it's worth every moment.
To say that Anora rides on the back of Mikey Madison would be an understatement, as she delivers an impassioned performance that's spellbinding. But Anora isn't just about Mikey Madison; it's equally defined by the performances of Mark Eydelshteyn, Anton Bitter, Karren Karagulian and Vache Tovmasyan, with special praise going to no one because they all deliver the absolute best.
The story, performances, score, editing are all tied together by Sean Baker's deft direction. The seamless way he moves between the sections of the movie with their different tones whilst maintaining a balanced pacing is remarkable.
Anora provides a story that feels like it's still unfolding just beyond the screen. It's not a film that begs for your approval, but one that demands your reflection. A must watch.
9-9.5/10.