Anora (Sean Baker, 2024)

[Never Cursed]

Anora trailer

[yoloswegmaster]

The following theaters will be screening Anora in 35mm within the next few weeks:

The Belcourt (Nashville)
Hollywood Theater (Portland)
Texas Theater (Dallas)
Coolidge Theater (Boston)
Music Box (Chicago)

[beamish14]

The Vista in Los Angeles is as well

[Self]

Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar in Austin too

[yoloswegmaster]

A look at a 35mm print being made

Full list of theaters in the U.S. that are screening prints:

October 22, 25-27 SAN FRANCISCO, CA Alamo New Mission
October 24-31 LOS ANGELES, CA Vista Theater
October 24-27 AUSTIN, TX Alamo South Lamar
October 25-31 CHICAGO, IL Music Box
October 25-27 BOSTON, MA Coolidge Corner
October 29 SEATTLE, WA SIFF Cinema
October 29 DALLAS, TX Texas Theater
October 31-November 3 RALEIGH, NC Alamo Raleigh
October 31-November 3 TUCSON, AZ The Loft Cinema
November 1-2 PORTLAND, OR Hollywood Theatre
November 1-7 NASHVILLE, TN Belcourt Theatre
November 4-10 COLUMBUS, OH Gateway Film Center
November 8-14 MAITLAND, FL Enzian Theater

[therewillbeblus]

This is Baker's funniest film yet - a screwball comedy primarily unfolding over a 24-hour period, and he maturely swaps his typically-deluding final moments (which were fitting for their respective projects) for a warm opportunity to break said state. While Mikey Madison deserves her accolades (Baker's intro to the 35mm screenings mentions that she did all her own stunts - quite impressive if you've seen the film!), the supporting cast is just as good. Regular Baker troupe player Karren Karagulian in particular gets to shine unlike ever before, taking on a more hysterical Howard Ratner lead to the acute crisis at hand, and Vache Tovmasyan, Mark Eidelstein, and Yura Borisov are just a riot. It's pretty surprising this kind of film has a shot at sweeping a chunk of the awards circuit, but glad to be here for it

[Mr Sausage]

Given the press I also thought this'd be a movie anchored by a commanding central performance, but it's closer to an ensemble piece, with everyone nailing their parts.

SpoilerShow

I found the ending kinda devastating. Not just that Anora had gained and lost everything in a matter of days, being deposited back where she started while the cold weather turned even colder, but that the whole experience does in fact break her. Despite the Russian/Armenian contingent's claims otherwise, she is well in control of her emotions, more so than most of the characters anyway. Even in the fight in the house where she's often labled crazy, all her decisions are tactical, meant to lull everyone and surprise them with brusts of aggression. It's everyone else who seems panicked and out of control, unsure of what they're doing moment by moment. The stress breaks Toros and Garnik well before it breaks Anora. Unfortunately, at the end, Igor's small moment of kindness proves too much for Anora, and everything her strength and the dizzying events had held at bay comes rushing out. She tries to suppress the flood of emotion and reassert control by turning the moment into a business transaction, repaying Igor's gesture with sex. But even that drastic measure is insufficient, and she breaks. It's very sad, and the following silence emphasizes it.

But I do like the hope you see in the ending, blus, even if it never occurred to me while watching it. I'd like nothing more than for the characters in the movie to be alright, even if it's not assured that they will.

[therewillbeblus]

SpoilerShow

I don't know if I found it "devastating" - while certainly somewhat sad in feeling for Ani's state, I'm optimistic about her resilience. She finally gets to breathe and let the sadness overtake her, which is uncomfortable - it's not a 'part' of her that's well-developed or used to coming out, due in large part to her self-preserving stoicism - but it's healthy nonetheless, and significantly occurs with a 'safe', sensitive person to hold space for her. I read the scene as her trying to use her old 'tricks' in sex to smooth over her emotions, like you, but realizing they don't work and allowing herself to be consoled (after a reaction of brief violence), which is a step in the right direction - painful as it is. It's a kind of catharsis rarely portrayed so complexly.

[Mr Sausage]

SpoilerShow

I did like that what cracked her defenses was the threat of intimacy. Igor tried to force intimacy through a kiss whereas Anora was paradoxically using sex to keep intimacy at bay. Having that emotional connection forced on her just brought everything crashing down, which is why she fought so hard against his kiss.

Good point that she allows herself to be consoled, because she sinks into Igor rather than escaping. I like your optimism. Ani is nothing if not resilient, tho' it's hard not to see how the security of medical, dental, and a 401K are far from available in her world. But then Vanya, for all his privilege, will have just as difficult a time in his gilded cage.

[Grand Wazoo]

I loved this film for numerous reasons and think it's Sean Baker's best, somehow beating out Starlet and Red Rocket for me. It's unbelievably funny and manic in the best way and I hope it manages to take home numerous Oscars, especially for editing since Baker's pacing is absolutely key for this story to work as well as it does. This looks like it cost far more than its meager budget due to stellar location/production design/props work amplified by gorgeous cinematography. Thinking I should start wearing hair tinsel from here on out.

SpoilerShow

Re: the ending. It's both catharsis and instant maturation after everything Anora went through. We saw a whole movie about two very young kids and Anora finally finds the more mature and healthy way of dealing with her emotions instead of sex, but without for a second condemning the sex work aspect of her life. She just needed a non-transactional connection and it comes from the only person who never wanted anything out of her to begin with. While I see how many can find it devastating, and it is given the circumstances, I too find it hopeful regarding her growth as a person.

[Mr Sausage]

SpoilerShow

Disagree about the ending. I think she's defaulting to something impersonal, sex as a transaction, in order to avoid dealing with her emotions in that moment. That is, she's treating Igor's gesture of returning the ring as payment for sex in order to avoid the emotions provoked by his gesture. Only it doesn't work, she's unable to hold her emotions at bay, so she has a breakdown in his arms. So I agree she needs a non-transactional connection, but I think she's actively avoiding one in that scene. So I don't think she finds a healthy or mature way to express her emotions, tho' maybe she will in the future.

[Grand Wazoo]

SpoilerShow

I think you're articulating what I meant in a better fashion. She is 100% attempting a sexual transaction with Igor as that's what she knows, but the sheer overwhelming emotion of the past day comes flowing out. I don't believe she for a second realizes or chooses this 'maturation' I mentioned, I think the ending is the seed of it occurring naturally, where the hopeful aspect is she might begin to understand what she requires to fulfill her emotionally now that she's with someone who seemingly cares about her wellbeing for perhaps the first time.

[therewillbeblus]

SpoilerShow

Yeah, I don’t think these readings are at odds with one another. I interpreted you as speaking to the very final moment of the encounter, when Ani breaks down. Before that, she’s defaulting to the tools she had in her toolbox, but breaking down and crying on Igor (after only briefly pushing him away with violence) demonstrates a “more* mature and healthy way of dealing with her emotions instead of sex.” It may not be what the masses consider a healthy coping mechanism - since it’s literally allowing oneself to become emotionally dysregulated! - but that can be a healthy way to unload under certain conditions. And it’s certainly healthier than dissociating with sex or violence as she does just before.

[Mr Sausage]

I think I was just fuzzyheaded from being sick and misunderstanding things. Sorry!

[thirtyframesasecond]

I thought this was terrific. Baker, as always, knows how to reflect the lives of those on the margins with great empathy but shows their full characters, warts and all. The tonal shifts from farcical comedy to heartbreak are superbly done. Watching the Russian and Armenian goons fail to handle Ani whilst they're in full panic mode is hilarious, but then when the world falls from under Ani's feet, you' feel for her big time. Madison's performance is superb and it should take something remarkable for her not to win the Oscar in this breakout role.