Typically sex work in films is presented to its audience to attract the male gaze. As we move forward in a modern era where the feminism movement has allowed more honest conversations and acceptance about women and our bodies, it’s time to focus on portraying the art of this line of work with respect and an accurate eye. Sean Baker’s Anora is a full-throttle romance comedy, exploring everything that heartbreak is – denial and betrayal.
Mikey Madison gives the performance of her career so far as Anora, who prefers to go by Ani, a New York exotic dancer. A usual night consists of money belts, vaping and gossiping about who got the weirder bloke. She is interrupted on her lunch break by the club manager who proclaims that a high-roller customer is out there and is asking for a dancer who can speak Russian. Ani, whose grandmother speaks Russian, volunteers instantly. The client is a young, fresh faced yet high as a kite guy called Vanya (Mark Eidelstein), the entitled son of an oligarch – he’s believed to be studying, but in fact he’s splashing his fathers cash like it grows on trees in an attempt of rebellion.
Vanya makes a deal with Ani after countless special visits to date her exclusively with a high fee that she can’t not accept. It transcends into a week of dazzling sex, dazed nights partying, countless drugs, video games and private jets to Las Vegas. As the week comes to an end Vanya provides Ani with another proposition, in fact a marriage proposal so they can continue their love fest and he gets a green card to stay in the states. What follows is a mad hunt for the Russian when he runs away on a late night bender after his uncle and parents demand the marriage to be annulled so they can retrieve some public decency.
Anora’s comedic element enables this film to become one of this year’s most alluring and entertaining films of the year. In the Royal Festival Hall celebrating the film’s UK premiere the audience went wild in their laughs. It was infectious, and is what is so thrilling about going to the cinema. It’s also a film that is very stereotypical of Baker’s work and what makes him a force in this industry – his careful observations and handling of the portrayal of those working in the sex industry is something others in filmmaking should be taking note of. In Anora, those working in the club don’t seem to love the job they are doing, and the benefits don’t weigh up despite repeatedly discussing with the manager. They want to leave, but its a secure way to keep the money coming in. Baker portrays sex work as a normality, just like a normal 9-5 office job – and that in itself should be celebrated.
At 2 hours 20 minutes, Anora feels a little dragged out in certain scenes. If slightly tightened, the film would arguably be pitch perfect. You will struggle to get the wild antics of the film out of your head. It’s a thrilling and vicariously vibrant ride. At the end, you want to be a friend to Ani and tell her that all will be okay in the end – its a perfect depiction that life is just a never-ending journey of going through struggles. I need another fix of the film asap please.
