As the Summer movie season transitions to Fall, all eyes are on one movie in particular: Sean Baker‘s “Anora.” And for good reason: Baker’s latest won the coveted Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in May, with many critics heralding the film as a long-deserved breakout for the director. Is there any truth to those claims? US audiences find out when “Anora” hits theaters next month.
READ MORE: Sean Baker’s ‘Anora’ Wins Palme d’Or At 2024 Cannes Film Festival
Those familiar with Baker’s previous films won’t be surprised by the set-up for this one: a Brooklyn-based sex worker elopes with the son of a Russian oligarch and chaos ensues. But Baker’s generous kino-eye and empathy for society’s maligned residents imbue “Anora” with more than off-kilter comedy. Add in a tour de force performance by Mikey Madison (also poised for a career breakthrough), and expect “Anora” to top several critic’s yearly top 10 lists. Don’t believe the hype? Well, check out the new international trailer for the film below.
Here’s an official synopsis for “Anora,” courtesy of NEON:
Anora, a young sex worker from Brooklyn, gets her chance at a Cinderella story when she meets and impulsively marries the son of an oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairytale is threatened as his parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled.
Along with Madison, “Anora” also stars Mark Eydelshteyn, Yura Borisov, Karren Karaguilian, and Vache Tovmasyan.
Baker writes and directs “Anora,” as he typically does on his projects. Alex Coco, Samantha Quan, and Baker produce the film. Executive producers on “Anora” include Ken Meyer, Clay Pecorin, Glen Basner, Alison Cohen, and Milan Popelka.
The Playlist’s take on “Anora” out of Cannes was mixed but skewed toward positive. Here’s an except: ““For all the questions you’ll have over Ani’s choices (girl, get a lawyer), it’s the actors alongside Madison who carry “Anora” across the finish line. It’s a transformative moment for the “Better Things” star, who portrays Ani with an unflinching charisma. On the other hand, the fresh-faced Eydelshteyn appears to be the second coming of Timothée Chalamet.”
“Anora” hits US theaters on October 18; will it do well enough with audiences that critics consider it for more trophies this coming awards season? As far as this writer is concerned, Sean Baker deserves any and all available accolades, so count on “Anora” making more waves to close out 2024. Watch the new international trailer for the film below.