If you want to see the best film of the year, look no further than Sean Baker‘s Anora. Winner of the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, Anora follows the rise and fall of an erotic dancer named Ani. Baker’s operatic love story is equally stunning and devastating as it depicts a whirlwind young romance destined to fail from the start. Not only is Anora a dazzling cinematic experience from script to screen, it also catapults lead actor Mikey Madison to stratospheric heights.

A Cinderella Story That Could Only Come From Sean Baker

Anora opens with a five-minute sequence set in a New York strip club, perfectly synched to a remix of Take That’s single “Greatest Day” (looking back through my notes during the screening, I had underlined–multiple times–”hot song!”). As the song pulsates through the speakers, Russian American sex worker Ani (Mikey Madison), short for Anora, is in her element working the floor of the gentlemen’s club with finesse and confidence. She may be scantily clad but what she lacks in modesty, she compensates for in charm and charisma. Ani flirts with the guests, her warm demeanor and inquisitive nature make her a natural conversationalist. It’s not unusual for men to fall in love with her for the night before they inevitably return to their wives in the early morning.

Watch the Anora trailer here.

On this night, Ani is set up with a young and mysterious client who specifically asks for a Russian-speaking dancer. Unbeknownst to her, this scrawny and boisterous nepo baby will change her life forever. She quite literally falls into the lap of luxury when she meets Ivan (Mark Eidelshtein), the son of a very wealthy Russian oligarch. A couple of years her junior, Ivan is immediately smitten with Ani, so much so that he convinces her to quit her job to spend time exclusively with him at his mansion in Sheepshead Bay. Hesitant at first, Ani eventually agrees. But she is a businesswoman first and foremost, so a deal is reached, prompting her to pack her bags, leave her Brooklyn apartment, and begin her new role as “girlfriend”.

From Russia, With Love

On paper, these two opposites are initially only focused on each other’s superficial qualities: sex and money. However, it’s not long before Ani and Ivan develop genuine feelings. This growing attachment makes Ivan’s upcoming situation complicated. He eventually confesses that his Visa is expiring and he must return to Russia. However, Ivan–who is used to getting whatever he wants–proposes a solution. He can stay in America if he marries an American. Ani reads between the lines. A spur-of-the-moment decision brings them to a little white chapel in Las Vegas, where they exchange drunken “I do’s”. Walking down the bustling streets of Sin City, with fireworks lighting up the sky, Ani is on cloud nine. She knows it’s fast and completely unexpected, but she’s never been happier.

A Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

The honeymoon phase doesn’t last long. Once word gets back to Ivan’s parents that he married a sex worker, they immediately jump on a plane to force an annulment. While they travel to New York, Ivan’s parents dispatch the family guardian Toros (Karren Karagulian) to talk some sense into Ivan. From here, Ani’s love story turns into complete and utter chaos. Toros and his cronies, Garnick (Vache Tovmaysan) and Igor (Yura Borisov), force their way into Ivan and Ani’s life. These men look tough, act tough, and will not take no for an answer. Afraid of his family’s retaliation, Ivan flees his mansion and goes MIA, leaving Ani at Toros’s mercy. From here, the film unravels into a wild goose chase as the unlikely group tries to track down Ivan and bring him home.

Shooting the Film in 35mm Using Anamorphic Lenses

Ani comes from the working-class world and is understandably swept away by Ivan’s wealth. She romanticizes him and his deep pockets. Much like how Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz experiences color when she enters the land of Oz, Ani’s world gets brighter just being next to Ivan. To further illustrate this new dimension and worldview, Sean Baker was adamant about shooting on 35mm with anamorphic lenses. This decision, lensed by director of photography Drew Daniels, gives Anora a timeless and beautifully sculpted aesthetic style.

Takeaway

Much like its titular character, Anora is a straight-shooting, no-BS, mesmerizing odyssey that, once experienced, is impossible to forget. It’s as much an exaggerated story of a sex-filled love bombing as it is an intimate look at class and access. Backed by strong performances that will make you laugh out loud and possibly shed a tear, Sean Baker once again strikes gold by telling another human-centered story that rings true with authenticity, courage, and heart. I hope he is ready to accept a lot of gold this awards season too.