The realism of Sean Baker’s films is a recurring style in his oeuvre and a singular highlight among his work by focusing on communities not often portrayed in mainstream Hollywood fare. From sex workers and porn actors to people living out of motels, his films always have a frank and brazen quality to them portraying a slice of modern American life unabashedly often with whimsical wit. This is no different with Anora, where its focus on a young stripper from Brighton Beach enticed into a world of luxurious parties and weekend trips to Las Vegas by her new client/boyfriend, Ivan and the hasty marriage that follows portrays the adolescent naiveté and innocence associated with young love.
The eccentric love story has all the trappings of a conventional romantic comedy from the couple’s meet cute, to them falling in love and getting married, to the eventual conflict with the in-laws which sparks the central question of whether they will stay together. Anora’s approach is wholly unorthodox to how the second half plays out, where after Ivan’s parents are notified of his marriage, they enlist affiliates based in the US to force the couple to get their marriage annulled. This leads to a humourous series of events, where in an attempt to abscond his parents’ demands Ivan flees, resulting in Anora and Ivan’s family affiliates city-wide search for him which spirals out of control in the best way possible.
The crude and irreverent humor throughout the film arises from both the debauchery and hijinks of the couple’s doomed romance and the eventual conflict between their marriage and Ivan’s parents stopping at nothing to get it annulled. The comedy of Anora fires on all cylinders and is hilarious from start to finish, with its larger-than-life characters and ludicrous situations paired with sharp comedic timing from the entire cast, there’s rarely a joke or laugh that didn’t land. The physical comedy is exceptional within the film and often highlights the absurdity of the many situations from the unforgettable sparring match between Anora and the affiliate henchmen in Ivan’s mansion, to reflecting quirky characteristic traits such as Ivan’s backward roll on a bed at the excitement of sex with Anora.
Mikey’s Madison’s star-making performance in the eponymous role is a highlight among the film and truly cements the character among other iconic leading ladies captivating the audience through admiration, respect and sympathy. Similar comparisons which come to mind are Melanie Griffith in Working Girl or Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde, where the charisma and energy the actress brings to the character elevate the film and ultimately transcends being a mere acting role into a starring vehicle showing the actress’ talent and star power. The journey of the character throughout the film is wild and varied – from the honeymoon feelings and pure euphoria of the initial relationship to the burst bubble feeling of his parents discovering their marriage and the chaos that ensues, Madison plays between the different story beats so fluidly and truly makes the character her own through the character’s infectious personality and fierce determination.
BFI LFF # 5
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