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Anora

The beauty of the Academy Awards is the chance for a wide audience to discover films that they might not otherwise be aware of. Last month, I reviewed one such film. At that time, FLOW had won the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature, and while THE WILD ROBOT (certainly excellent in its own right) was considered the favorite, FLOW ended up taking home the Oscar. And, as delightful as this surprise was, the story of the night was certainly the independent gem ANORA.

When the nominations were announced, all signs pointed to a massive night for EMILIA PEREZ. Then, old tweets from star Karla Sofía Gascón were uncovered, and their offensive nature lead EMILIA PEREZ’s odds of taking home the Best Picture prize to plummet. EMILIA’s loss was ANORA’S gain. Billed by many as a “modern day ‘Cinderella’” the independent feature written, directed, and edited by Sean Baker had been turning heads since its release. Filmed with a small crew, a limited budget ($6 million according to most accounts), and largely on location throughout New York City, it was a uniquely authentic and surprisingly hilarious modern take on the rom-com.

When a client at the exotic club needs a dancer who speaks Russian, Ani (Mikey Madison) is called into action. She is introduced to Ivan “Vanya” Zakhorov (Mark Eydelshteyn) who is immediately smitten. The two meet again outside of club hours and Vanya lets Ani know that he is the son of a Russian oligarch. He’s in New York to spend a couple of weeks before he begins to work for the family and wants to have as much fun and enjoy as much as possible. He asks if Ani will spent the next week with him exclusively, gleefully agreeing to pay $15,000 for the experience.

What begins as a week morphs into “forever” as the two get married in Vegas after a few days of partying. Ani is thrilled at the prospect of not only having a husband, but having one that lives in a mansion and has a seemingly limitless amount of money and party drugs at his disposal. These scenes are wild and infectious, effectively capturing the carefree abandon of young adults to whom money means nothing. Their debauchery is projected as a whimsical foray into the depths of decadence, while also highlighting the instant chemistry and cohesion that the couple shares.

Their joy is short-lived, however, once Ivan’s parents find out, and immediately begin taking the steps to annul the nuptials. This includes pressuring Godfather Toros (Karren Karagulian), Toros’s brother Garnik (Vache Tovmasyan) and fellow henchman Igor (Best Supporting Actor nominee Yura Borisov) to employ any means necessary to get the union annulled. Once approached, Ivan flees, chaos ensues, and soon, Ani is dragged along on a manhunt throughout the city to find the runaway groom.

ANORA is noteworthy in its ability to compete against massive productions like DUNE 2, WICKED, and A COMPLETE UNKNOWN and still find a way to emerge victorious in the Academy Awards most prestigious categories. It’s unique presentation and fearless content allows it to remain true to its independent roots, while also delivering beautiful visuals, moments of hilarity, and unforgettable performances by a cast that isn’t loaded with A-listers. Madison starred in SCREAM (2022) and has made appearances in other projects like ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD and the television series BETTER THINGS, but she could hardly be considered a household name. Until now, that is. Heading into Oscar night, it seemed a given that Demi Moore would be taking home the Best Actress award for THE SUBSTANCE, but Madison’s revelatory turn as the head-strong and fearless Ani prevailed. This certainly shouldn’t take anything away from Moore’s dazzling performance, but Madison commanded the screen for every second of every scene, allowing the unpolished Ani to become 2024’s most unlikely and unpolished heroine. Regardless of whether she won the statuette or not, it is the type of remarkable breakthrough that can catapult a performer from the outskirts of stardom to the top of the list.