Her life takes an unexpected turn when a sex worker from Brooklyn meets and impulsively marries the impetuous son of a Russian billionaire. However, when his parents catch wind of the union, they send their henchmen to annul the marriage, setting off a wild chase through the streets of New York. A film by Sean Baker, starring Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn, Yura Borisov, Karren Karagulian, Vache Tovmasyan, Luna Sofia Miranda, Lindsey Normington, Darya Ekamasova, Anton Bitter, Vlad Mamai, Maria Tichinskaya, Ivy Wolk, and Aleksey Serebryakov.

Written and directed by American filmmaker Sean Baker, “Anora” is a comedy-drama film that centers around a young sex worker whose life takes an unexpected turn when she meets a wealthy young client, who is later revealed to be the son of a Russian oligarch family.

Their attraction appears mutual, and he eventually invites her to his family’s Brooklyn mansion where their romantic relationship continues to develop. He later hires her exclusively for a week, and they take a trip to Las Vegas with his friend, where they spontaneously get married. However, she remains unaware of his true motivation: he simply wants to upset his mother by marrying a sex worker.

When his parents discover their marriage, they send henchmen to handle the situation and annul the union. Upon learning that his parents are flying to America to take him back to Russia, he panics and runs away. With no alternatives, the henchmen force her to help them find him, promising her $10,000 once the marriage is annulled.

While both Mikey Madison and Mark Eydelshteyn deliver charming performances as sex worker Anora “Ani” Mikheeva and young Russian oligarch Ivan “Vanya” Zakharov, the film feels too long with its simple narrative, offering no surprises or unexpected turns of events.

The story progresses at a glacial pace, with the first 40 minutes devoted to a basic romantic comedy setup: two people meet and develop a relationship that revolves mostly around sex and partying. Do we really need 40 minutes to understand their dynamic?

The story then takes a predictable turn when henchmen are sent to resolve the situation, only to spend almost an hour meandering through the city in search of Ivan.

The film should have ended when Ivan’s parents take him back to Russia and Ani returns to her old life. Instead, it introduces an unnecessary subplot involving a henchman named Igor and Ani. While this development offers a slight surprise, their interactions feel awkward and inexplicably creepy.

I don’t understand why critics have given the film such high praise and are head over heels for this film – it seems overhyped. Why this film won the Palme d’Or will forever be a mystery to me. Did they see the same film I did?

Anora premiered at Festival de Cannes on 21 May 2024, where it won the Palme d’Or. The film was theatrically released in the United States on 18 October, by Neon.

The Palme d’Or is the highest award presented at the Cannes Film Festival, one of the most prestigious film festivals globally. Established in 1955, it honors the director of the best feature film in the festival’s Official Competition. The award symbolizes excellence in filmmaking and is recognized as one of the film industry’s most esteemed accolades.