Anora is the story about Ani, a 23 year old exotic dancer who meets 21 year old Ivan, nicknamed Vanya, who is crazy rich, lives in a palatial house and parties non-stop. The first third of the film is about their whirlwind romance. Ani and Vanya's love story is sweet and carefree but all that is about the change in the 2nd and 3rd acts. Nope, not going to give any more away.
Written, produced and directed by Sean Baker. I have enjoyed all Sean's independent films starting with Tangerine (shot on an iPhone), The Florida Project and Red Rocket. "Anora" was a must-see film for me. Sean's films focus on the lives of people who live on the margins: especially immigrants and sex workers.
Anora, nicknamed Ani, is played by a vibrant, sexy Mikey Madison in her breakout performance. Mikey is magnetic throughout the film, you can't take your eyes off her. This is the Cinderella story she always dreamed about.
Acolades include:
- Winner of the Palme d'Or at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival
- One of the top 10 films of 2024 by the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute
- Critics' Choice Award for Best Picture
- Producers Guild of America Award for Best Theatrical Motion Picture
- Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing
- Six nominations at the 97th Academy Awards (including Best Picture)
- Five nominations at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards (including Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical)
- Seven nominations at British Academy Film Awards (including Best Film)
Anora is an adult film with lots of nudity, lap dancing, graphic sex (the young lovers are in their 20's after all), smoking, drugs and swearing but surprisingly very little violence.
Watch the trailer which doesn't give much of the plot away
https://youtu.be/GuPkfvxmtdw94% on RT
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/anora 
