★★★★★★★★☆☆ (8/10)

Contains Spoilers!

Anora (2024) is the latest feature from Sean Baker, a filmmaker known for his raw, street-level storytelling. This time, he takes us into the world of Anora (Mikey Madison), a young Brooklyn sex worker who unexpectedly marries Vanya Zakharov (Mark Eydelshteyn), the son of a powerful Russian oligarch. What unfolds is a wildly entertaining, often hilarious, yet deeply human story that plays like a modern-day Cinderella — but without the fairy-tale illusions. With stellar performances and a sharp script full of energy, Anora is both a captivating ride and a sharp reflection on class divides and power dynamics in contemporary society.

Sean Baker has a unique ability to extract performances that feel almost documentary-like, and Anora is no exception. The entire cast delivers subtly powerful, deeply realist portrayals, avoiding theatrical exaggeration. Mikey Madison is nothing short of award-worthy in the lead role. She takes Anora from an emotionally guarded, transactional existence to a moment where all the emotions she has kept hidden burst out, culminating in a finale that feels utterly shattering. The progression of her character is crafted with such precision that, by the end, you realize you've been watching a performance that feels painfully authentic. Yura Borisov also stands out in the role of Igor, embodying a quiet intensity that adds another layer of complexity to the film. The supporting cast, including Karren Karagulian and Aleksei Serebryakov, strengthens the film’s texture, grounding it in a hyper-realistic world that never veers into caricature.

Despite its serious themes, Anora is incredibly fun to watch. Baker has always excelled at blending humor with deeply human storytelling, and here he strikes a perfect balance. The film is full of sharp, laugh-out-loud moments. The dialogue crackles with energy, the pacing never lags, and the situations unfold with a mix of unpredictability and comedic brilliance. It’s as entertaining as it is insightful.

On the surface, Anora mirrors classic rags-to-riches narratives, reminiscent of Pretty Woman or even Cinderella. But unlike those films, Baker strips away the fantasy and exposes the brutal reality beneath. There is no prince charming in this story, only power struggles, social hierarchies, and a protagonist desperately trying to survive in a world where she has little control. This class conflict—the stark contrast between Anora’s precarious existence and the obscene privilege of the Russian elite—is one of the film’s strongest undercurrents. Money, in Anora, is both seductive and destructive, an invisible force that dictates relationships, decisions, and ultimately, fates.

The ending of Anora is an intense emotional release, capturing a woman who has fought to maintain control over her emotions, trying to shield herself from the world’s blows. But as the weight of everything she has endured becomes unbearable, she can no longer contain it. Much like Le Notti di Cabiria, the final moments are not about redemption or hope but about a raw, unfiltered recognition of suffering. The power of the finale lies in its authenticity—there is no grand resolution, just the unshakable truth of a person fully confronting their own pain. Baker leaves us with an image that lingers, not because it offers relief, but because it refuses to look away from reality.

Sean Baker delivers yet another unforgettable film, a gripping, socially aware, and wildly entertaining modern fable. With an astonishing lead performance by Mikey Madison and a supporting cast that brings an unfiltered realism to the screen, Anora is one of the most engaging, thought-provoking, and funniest films of 2024. While it doesn’t reinvent Baker’s formula, it reinforces his ability to tell deeply human stories in a way few directors can match.

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Photos courtesy of Neon Films.