Sweeping the 2025 Oscars with 5 awards including best picture, and best supporting actress, Anora has become the talk of the town. Released on October 18th to select theaters, the film was written, directed, and edited by Sean Baker (The Florida Project, Tangerine) grossing a total of $42,399,828 dollars worldwide. Being an independent film, Anora only had a budget of $6 million dollars. The film was shot on location in NYC with around 40 crew members. Being filmed over 37 days, Anora is a testament to the power of independent filmmaking.
The powerhouse Mikey Madison was offered the role of Anora without an audition, for Baker was struck by her performance in Once upon a time in Hollywood (Tarantino). For this performance, Madison spent a year learning Russian, pole dancing, and a Brooklyn accent, even going so far as to visit strip clubs and learn from the dancers themselves. Madison is Anora, the work they put into this role shines on screen.
The most stunning part of Maidson’s performance is the clear difference between Ani and Anora. Ani being her stripper persona, and Anora, who is her true self. Madison brings her to life, making it feel as if Anora is someone almost too real, the absolute accuracy of her portrayal giving respect to the sex work community. A community that has been criticized and abused since the beginning of time.
Mikey Madison isn’t the only star in this film, she is accompanied by an incredible ensemble cast. This ensemble includes Yura Borisov (Igor), Mark Eydelshteyn (Vanya), Vache Tovmasyan (Garnik), and an incredible performance by Karren Karagulian (Toros). Karagulian has worked with Baker on every single one of his projects, and after watching this film it’s easy to understand why.
The interpersonal relationships in the film between Anora, Ivan and his crew shine, Each character having their own interests and motives with Anora, and with Anora being the center of this movie, the audience can see each male character for who they truly are.
Baker does an incredible job of letting the audience piece together Anora. Anora is the main breadwinner, her mom being an immigrant from Russia isn’t extremely present in the movie. Her grandma is insinuated to be her main caretaker, being her portal to learning Russian, the reason Anora is even put in front of Vanya in the first place.
Through these facts, it’s to be assumed that Anora is in a fragile position, easily swayed by the ideas of fame and fortune, which is exactly what Vanya can give to her, and as the movie progresses the lines between worker and lover fades. Ivan brings her into a world she never imagined for herself. Ultimately leading to a Vegas marriage that Anora initially worries about, but with the idea of permanently living the life she’s been enjoying for the past few weeks, she lets herself into a fake euphoria, marrying Vanya.
Even with this marriage, Vanya is clearly not Ani’s true love. As Igor’s character becomes more developed in the second half of this film, it becomes clear who is the Prince Charming of this story.
Igor is a part of the crew determined to annul Ani’s marriage, though Igor seems to have little interest in the situation, instead he simply does the job he’s been asked to do, at times showing true kindness to Anora. He’s likely the only man to show kindness to Anora without any sexual purpose in years or, in her entire life.
Anora is stunning, I recommend you not only watch it once, but at least twice. The things I picked up from my second watch changed the story for me. The message of Anora, in a time that the government itself are turning on the women of America is necessary.
Each Oscar for this film reiterates the ideal that women are vital to our society. So yes, Anora deserved 5 oscars, and in my opinion it deserves more, this movie deserves to stand up to the ultimate test of time.
