By: Sam Gruetter

Opinion Editor

On Oct. 18, 2024, theatres began showing Anora, a movie starring rising actress Mikey Madison as the lead Anora.  The film details the tumultuous relationship between Anora, or Ani, and Ivan Zakharov, played by Mark Eydelshteyn. The movie teases the viewer with the promise of a rom-com for the first fifty minutes, but quickly overshadows this with reality for the duration of the movie, simulating the unexpected tumult Ani endures when her life is upended. Ani is a stripper living in Brooklyn, who meets Ivan when he comes to the club in which she works. Ivan is an extremely opulent individual who flaunts his wealth in an attempt to impress Ani by bringing her to his lavish mansion and taking her on exotic vacations. On one of their vacations to Vegas the couple marry, ensuring Ani a life of financial security, but also dependency on Ivan. Once Ivan’s parents hear about their marriage, they immediately disapprove and get the marriage annulled, immediately turning the relationship hostile and leaving Anora with no evidence of the lavish lifestyle she was briefly immersed in. 

The most notable aspect of this film is the authenticity with which Madison conducts herself while playing the role. In order to prepare for playing Ani, Madison watched many strippers and engrossed herself in the culture of sex work within Brooklyn, even down to the tattoos many strippers have. Madison’s impeccable acting and tireless preparation paid off when she won an Oscar for Best Actress because of her role in Anora. In her acceptance speech, Madison acknowledged the sex worker community and the people she met in that community while filming. Another notable part of the film is the eloquence and authenticity with which it approaches intimate scenes. It is undeniable that there will be numerous intimate scenes because of Ani’s profession as a sex worker; however these scenes help convey the unfortunate reality that Ani has to use sex, and the promise of it, to make social progress. 

Another part that contributes to the original and exceptional viewing experience of Anora is the small details and scenes that conveyed the social commentary it makes on the profession of sex work. Arguably, the most impactful scene is the final one, where Ani and Igor, Ivan’s bodyguard, share an intimate moment and Ani ultimately breaks down in tears for the first time in the movie, and it is left up to interpretation whether or not she and Igor have sex. This moment signals a shift where Ani stops associating intimacy with transactions and begins being more sincere. 

Anora took home many well-deserved accolades on the night of the Oscars. The film won: Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing, and Best Supporting Actor. This was a rather unexpected turn of events, as the film had a low budget and very little publicity. Despite all odds, it now boasts a series of impressive accolades.