Crossing borders and bending norms, Anora arrives as a North American production with a distinctly Russian cast and dialogues that slip between English and Russian. Its festival debut drew immediate notice and later joined the award-season conversation. In Russia, authorities tightened rules around drug imagery, forcing cuts so the film could travel under local guidelines. Footage depicting prohibited substances was removed to align with regulatory expectations, resulting in what distributors describe as the most faithful presentation possible within the Russian market.
Despite those edits, the film maintains a raw edge. Sean Baker does not anchor his latest work in conventional values. Anora elevates the experiences of sex workers, a focus the director has pursued for years, with a sixth project widely anticipated. The story follows Ani, a New York stripper who prefers to be called Ani and speaks Russian in club conversations, as she becomes entangled with Vanya, the son of a powerful Russian figure, setting a dangerous, propulsive arc in motion.
The opening scenes deliver a neon-soaked night-time mood: a bar, a back room, a negotiation that blends desire with money. Ani and Vanya move through a web of flirtations and offers, and the negotiations quickly escalate beyond romance into a test of loyalty, risk, and the price of skin and shelter.
As the second act unfolds, the film nods to Tarantino with brisk, witty exchanges and pop-culture riffs, giving the American‑style thriller a sharper edge. The lead performance by Mikey Madison anchors this shift, embodying a charisma that helps make the sometimes brisk dialogue feel lived-in rather than flashy. Madison’s work is central to the feature, a modern echo of her early roles that Baker has transformed into a defining strength.
Across the Atlantic, Borisov and Eidelstein bring a layered authority to their roles, while Serebryakov and Ekamasova provide quiet, expressive counterpoints. Their presence grounds the film, offering a credible sense of place amid the cross-border tensions that drive the plot.
The collaboration with Russian talent yields a tangible chemistry that resonates with fans in both North America and Europe. The film uses multilingual dialogue to reflect real-world dynamics, with linguistic texture adding to the realism rather than serving as mere flavor.
Anora may not aim for the same emotional range as Baker’s Florida Project, but it earns attention for a fearless fusion of street-level realism, dark humor, and a willingness to push boundaries. Producers, including Simon Rex, bring a distinctive Tarantino-esque sensibility to the project, pushing the edges of what can be shown without losing the human core.
Ending moments leave an impression that invites discussion long after the credits roll. Critics and audiences in Canada and the United States are likely to debate the film’s tone, its use of terms and cultural references, and the uneasy blend of love, risk, and money. The final images linger, offering a provocative reminder that cinema can spark conversations far beyond the screen.
Anora is the title chosen for the film, a concise label that houses a bold narrative. The project traveled through the festival circuit in 2024 and found a wider audience as it expanded to theaters in subsequent months, drawing a mixed but attentive response from critics and viewers alike.
Russia played host to a later stage release, with the film navigating the local licensing landscape as it reached screens there. The journey illustrates how geopolitical contexts shape distribution and how audiences respond to cross-cultural tales that straddle markets.
With a running time near 139 minutes, Anora moves between fast-paced club scenes and intimate character studies. The pacing sustains a tension that keeps viewers attentive while offering moments of quiet reflection that reveal the characters’ inner lives.
Directed by Sean Baker, the cast includes Mikey Madison, Yura Borisov, Alexey Serebryakov, Daria Ekamasova, Karen Karagulyan, and Vache Tovmasyan. Each performer contributes distinctive energy, weaving together a mosaic of voices that reflect both American street realism and Russian urban grit.
The film’s bravura production and the performances add texture to a narrative that resists simple categorization. It contends with desire, class, and international power dynamics while maintaining a human-centered focus on the people who live through these forces.
Substance use carries health risks. The message serves as a reminder to approach media with awareness and responsibility, especially when a film centers on addiction, risk, and the seductions that accompany both.