Awarded the prestigious Palme d’Or at the last Cannes Film Festival, Anora by Sean Baker is expected in theaters on October 30, 2024. Discover our opinion (spoiler: we loved it).
After Los Angeles (Tangerine), Florida (The Florida Project) and Texas (Red Rocket), Sean Baker continues to chart its course in the United States in its new movie, Anoraleft the last Cannes Film Festival crowned with the prestigious Palme d’Or. Back to New-York (After Prince of Broadway), the American filmmaker This time he sets up his camera in the Russian quarter of Brighton Beach or lives Anora, Years according to his preference (Mikey Madisonseen in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood et Scream).
Trainer in a hostess bar, Ani is also escort in his spare time. During a night like all the others – the men act as such, the naked dancers chain the customers, playing on their charms to pile up the greenbacks – the young woman with sculptural beauty meets a young Russian, Ivan (Mark Eidelstein).
This immature weakling, just out of his mother’s skirts, teaches her that he is the son of a Russian oligarch. A godsend for Ani who dreams of class defector, imagining leaving behind her life of misery made up of wandering hands and subway rides at dawn. If the story makes us think, in broad terms, of Pretty WomanSean Baker is actually looking more towards James Gray and his Little Odessa.
Through a expressive editing and an ultra-rapid alternation of skits, the New York director shows, during a first part light although agitated, the intimacy of ultra-rich youth as we suspect it. Taking advantage of being outside of any parental framework (Ivan’s are in Russia, he lives alone in the huge family home), the two lovebirds leave by jet for Las Vegas, on a whim, because it is said that the drugs are better there.
Yes, yes pace East gallopingthis express love story is just as much, leading them immediately to the altar. But soon, Ivan’s parents found out and asked the New York Russian community for help. Enough to offer one of the most funny of the film, when the Armenian priest Toros (Karren Karagulian) is sponsored by the family to force the two young people to cancel the marriage.
In real orthodox censorhe is accompanied by Igor (Yuri Borisov) et Garnick (Vache Tovmasyan), two Nickeled Feet that look like mirrored cabinets, who quickly find themselves helpless in the face of Ani who swears like a cartwoman and struggles like a lioness. Because never Sean Baker does not fall into the cliché of the bloodthirsty Russian version Shadow Promises. If the chosen community could suggest a dramatic film with mafia overtones, Anora turns out, in reality, to be a hilarious comedy drama at times, carried by finely delivered replies.
From a breathtaking magnetismthe character of Mikey Madison is also feminine that he is a feminist, powerful that it is cracked. A strong portrait for a Palme d’Or moderne who enjoys a staged removed, as close as possible to the frenzy of the night and New York youth. Available in theaters on October 30, 2024.
The Cinema Festival in Paris, the program
