At the center of this cinematic tornado, there is Ani. Her real name is Anora, but she feels in some way it doesn\u2019t fit the armor she built around her over the years. As a lap dancer and occasionally a prostitute, Ani uses her body, her voice, and her face as screens between the external world and her true self. When the young and extremely wealthy Ivan wants to marry her after a few days of total fun together, Ani finally has the chance to escape the world she lives in. But marrying the son of an oligarch could not be the best idea, at least for an \u201ceasy\u201d girl like her\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a9Courtesy of Neon<\/p>\n Anora<\/strong> is an incredibly fun feature film, socially if you think – and it happens during the movie – that you shouldn\u2019t really laugh about what happens to her. The fact is Ani lives her life with such powerful energy she can be contagious: everything and everyone around her becomes sparkling, intense. <\/span>Sean Baker<\/b> follows her misadventure with Ivan letting the camera catch all of the chaos that a situation like that can generate. <\/span><\/p>\n There is a sequence in the middle of the story when all of the main characters reunite in the luxurious living-room, that brings to mind some of the best <\/span>John Cassavetes<\/b> movies like <\/span>Faces<\/b> or <\/span>Minnie & Moskowitz<\/b>. Of course, take this comparison with a grain of salt, especially because the process of filmmaking is likely different between Cassavetes and Baker. But the director of <\/span>Anora<\/b><\/a> has been nonetheless able to achieve that level of truthfulness in his movie, expressing the fun side of such organized craziness.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/ins>\n Another great quality of Baker\u2019s movie is the perfect environment in which the characters live and act: Brighton Beach and Coney Island are working-class neighborhoods where humanity can be both miserable and hilarious, and where violence and irony can be linked together. Born in New Jersey and graduated in New York, <\/span>Sean Baker<\/b> knows perfectly the setting of <\/span>Anora<\/b>, making it a fundamental added character of the story, the same way it happened for example with the motel in the Florida Project. This movie is grittier than the previous ones, maybe even more scratchy, and this is because the director was capable of elevating the quality of the story and mise en scene without losing their authenticity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If Anora is such a remarkable piece of art, the merit needs to be shared with the protagonist <\/span>Mikey Madison<\/b><\/a>. Since the very first scene, the actress shows she totally understands her character, developing a body language that is harsh, brave, vulgar, and vital. At the same time, through little silences or the blink of an eye, Madison lets the audience glimpse at <\/span>Anora\u2019s frustration, making her a tragic figure even if you can\u2019t stop laughing because of her. The director and the protagonist have worked in complete synergy in order to create a crude universe where you can\u2019t make sense, you just have to embrace the chaos and enjoy the ride. If you are ready to do it, <\/span>Anora<\/b> will strike you as one of the best movies of the year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a9Courtesy of Neon<\/p>\n Rate: A-<\/strong><\/p>\n If you like the articles, share your thoughts below!<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Anora](\"https:\/\/cinemadailyus.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Anora5-1.png\")
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