Cover Ani and Ivan happily wedded (Photo: courtesy of Netflix)
Ani and Ivan happily wedded (Photo: courtesy of Netflix)
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Sean Baker’s ‘Anora’ combines romance, grit, and social commentary, delivering a unique take on a modern love story
If Julia Robert’s Pretty Woman and Monica Belluci’s Malena had a relationship with Todd Phillip’s Hangover, the cinematic love child would undoubtedly be Sean Baker’s Anora.
This is Sean Baker’s eighth feature film and his most decorated to date, earning numerous awards and nominations, including Palme d’Or at Cannes Film Festival and Best Musical or Comedy Film at the recent 2025 Golden Globes awards. If you’re new to Sean Baker’s work, this film is the perfect introduction to his masterful storytelling.
The film opens with a few gentle strums of a guitar, gradually revealing the lyrics of Take That’s Greatest Day. The camera leads us inside a strip bar where men and women move like traders in a stock market—except here, flesh and desire are the commodities. “Today this could be the greatest day of our lives // Before it all ends, before we run out of time,” these lyrics sum up the opening sequence. It is the fantasy everyone longs for, and it could be everyone’s greatest day—especially for Anora.
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Above Mikey Madison as Anora / Ani (Photo: courtesy of Netflix)
Mikey Madison as Anora / Ani (Photo: courtesy of Netflix)
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Ani, short for Anora, is a free-spirited young sex worker in the gritty, neon-lit underworld of Brooklyn. She dances from one man to another, her interactions less about seduction and more about business, revealing her talent for monetising beauty and allure in a way that doesn’t feel forced. The film veers away from the typical pitfalls of exploitation and melodrama often associated with such narratives. Instead, it becomes an outsider, observing the universal yearnings of the human condition: desires for connection, fleeting affection, or even love. This is Anora’s world, and it comes alive when she meets Ivan (or Vanya), the privileged heir to a Russian oligarch. At first glance, it may seem like a typical Cinderella story, but Baker playfully crafts a simple love story, steering the narrative into an experience that feels both familiar and refreshingly unique. The result? A romantic-comedy layered with grit and complexity rather than a sugar-coated fairytale for the young audience.
Above A peek inside ‘Anora’ (Photo: courtesy of Netflix)
A peek inside ‘Anora’ (Photo: courtesy of Netflix)
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Given its R-18 rating, the intimate scenes in Anora are handled with sensitivity and care. Baker, alongside his wife and producer Samantha Quan, offered Mikey Madison (Anora) the option to work with an intimacy coordinator, but Madison declined, agreeing with co-star Mark Eydelshteyn (Ivan) that keeping the team small would be the better approach for them. An intimacy coordinator, as defined by Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), is “an advocate, a liaison between actors and production, and a movement coach and/or choreographer in regards to nudity and simulated intercourse and other intimate and hyper-exposed scenes.” Despite featuring several intimate moments, Anora never veers into the erotica genre. Instead, it comfortably fits within the Comedy category at the Golden Globes.
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Above Mikey Madison as Ani and Mark Eydelshteyn as Ivan in ‘Anora’ (Photo: courtesy of Netflix)
Mikey Madison as Ani and Mark Eydelshteyn as Ivan in ‘Anora’ (Photo: courtesy of Netflix)
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Above Ani and Ivan wedded and having fun (Photo: courtesy of Netflix)
Ani and Ivan wedded and having fun (Photo: courtesy of Netflix)
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The ensemble cast delivers exceptional performances, with Mikey Madison fully embracing her reputation as a “Scream Queen” while bringing depth and charisma to Anora. The Russian and Armenian ensemble, on the other hand, is a comedic powerhouse. Combined with pop music and soundtracks, the cast’s performances inject humour and charm that elevates the film’s playful tone. Their dynamic is undoubtedly the heart of the film’s comedic success. One standout to watch for, aside from Madison’s performance, is Yura Borisov’s portrayal of Igor—a performance worthy of nominations from all acting award-giving bodies.
But Anora is not all about fun and games. Baker once again proves his ability to deliver an entertaining film layered with social relevance. The film’s social commentary emerges subtly through the characters’ behaviours and dialogues, reflecting Baker’s signature storytelling approach. In an interview, he admitted that he gravitates toward subject matters involving marginalised subcultures or communities. His wife also shared that he has always been drawn to “people and situations that are always there, but people choose not to see them.”
Above Mikey Madison has won several awards for her portrayal of Ani (Photo: courtesy of Netflix)
Mikey Madison has won several awards for her portrayal of Ani (Photo: courtesy of Netflix)
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In Anora, we witness broken individuals yearning for the right opportunities to find happiness. For the men with money and power, it’s a fantasy world—an escape from their chaotic realities. But for Anora and the other women who work alongside her, there is no escape. This is their reality, one where they offer pieces of themselves to satisfy the desires of these men. Baker captures this harsh duality with a poignant and unflinching gaze.
The film’s ending ties it all together in a deeply satisfying way, leaving viewers to confront and reflect on these harsh realities.
