Anora

The bizarre netherworld of the sex industry, where love (or rather lust) is for sale, is a theme independent filmmaker Sean Baker has returned to on several occasions, as he does in his latest project, Anora. It takes its name from its heroine, Anora (Mikey Madison), or Ani for short, a stripper with a sideline in escorting. Feisty in the way that those whose profession involves catering to our baser instincts have to be, she is one of New York’s Headquarters strip club’s top workers.

As she’s of Uzbek extraction and can speak Russian, she is called upon to look after a youthful Russian high roller Vanya (Mark Eydelshteyn) – the wayward son of a Russian oligarch named Zakharov. Ani’s knowing charm wins over the brattish Vanya, who after several sexual encounters pays her to be his exclusive girlfriend.

What follows is a tragicomic descent into madness, as Anora and Vanya marry in Vegas, only for it to send his Russian plutocrat parents into a frenzy. US-based underling Toros (Karren Karagulian) is sent with acolytes Garnick (Vache Tovmasyan) and Igor (Yura Borisov) to break the partying odd couple up, but end up with a furious Ani chasing after a drunken Vanya.

It is a madcap, funny film with tinges of sadness. Anora is fairly comfortable with her lot before meeting Vanya. However, unlimited riches are dangled in front of her, only to come with a reminder that to those with the wealth to change her life, she is just a “hooker”, and thus seen as disposable and not marriage material.

Madison is fantastic as Ani, portraying her as a bit crazy yet with an underlying dignity. Her character gradually builds an unexpected rapport with Igor while still exchanging barbs over their respective positions as toys of those with more wealth than many states.

Baker’s feature also looks fantastic, with its first act a seedy blur of neon-lit clubs and parties, later transitioning to the clean opulence of Vanya’s home and then the grotty half-light of the after-hours as the motley crew hunt for him.

Without preaching, the story makes clear the moral ills of a world where a sparky, clever woman like Ani is selling her body to a brat who is given everything he can dream of. It’s the humour and repartee between a cast who enjoy bouncing off each other – literally in some cases – though, that make it a real winner.

Mark Worgan

Anora does not have a UK release date yet.

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