What It’s About:
Ani (short for “Anora”) is a highly skilled exotic dancer working at a Manhattan gentleman’s club. One night, she meets Vanya (Edelshteyn), a young Russian who claims to be 21 but looks and acts younger. Flush with cash, it turns out he’s the son of an oligarch. Ani agrees to be his paid girlfriend for a week, and after tons of wild partying, the young couple impulsively decides to get hitched in Vegas. But how will Vanya’s parents back in Russia react to his marrying a New York call girl?
Why We Love It:
Baker’s “Anora” is several things at once, all complementary- an uproarious comedy, affecting drama, and unlikely romance. Madison is the heart of the film, delivering a fearless, star-making turn as Ani. The older and wiser of the pair, she should know better but gets swept up in the possibility of true love and a better life. And we love her for it. The rest of the cast is note-perfect, particularly Karagulian as Toros, the oligarch’s local chief, and Borisov as Igor, the Russian bodyguard who takes a shine to Ani. Location shooting in Manhattan, Vegas, and Brighton Beach adds flavor. “Anora” is unmissable- a movie that restores your faith in what film can do and be.