Anora review: cashing in on the currency of sex

Anora is a sex worker. She prefers the name Ani. Her story begins in a strip club where we see her life and work with almost documentary clarity. The second act is a hilarious fever dream. The final moments at the end are heartbreaking and real. Mikey Madison stars as Anora in a performance that is getting her nominations and awards already. There are some spoilers ahead.

Ani’s life consists of long hours of lap dances and stripping. She’s really good at her job, quickly getting the clients into the private rooms where the money is better. She smiles, she cajoles, she’s a winner. Her banter with the other women and her boss is on the mark.

Her boss interrupts her dinner hour when a big spender arrived who wants a girl who can speak Russian. Ani knows Russian because of her grandmother. She meets Ivan (Mark Eydelshteyn). He’s young, rich, and spending freely. When he asks to see her outside of the club she gives him her number.

She goes to his place. It’s a huge mansion reeking of money. Ivan is a spoiled child. Incredibly immature. When they prepare to have sex the first time, he actually somersaults into the bed in excitement.

Ivan invites her to a New Year’s Eve party at his place. It’s full of drugs, liquor and excess of every kind. Ivan wants Ani to be his girlfriend for a week. He’ll give her $15,000. He’s scheduled to return to Russia after a week. During that week they fly to Las Vegas for more drugs, drinking, and partying.

Ivan asks Ani to marry him in Vegas. He says it will make his parents suck his dick. She does it. She’s so happy. She’s set now. There’s money, a fabulous house, a brainless boy who says he loves her.

Then the parents in Russia hear the news that their boy is married. Until they can arrive on their private jet to make sure the marriage is annulled, they send three men who have experience handling the impossible Ivan.

Toros (Karren Karagulian) is the boss of the three. Garnick (Vache Tovmasyan) and Igor (Yura Borisov) are with him. From this point the film turns into a Keystone Kops madhouse. Ani is determined to stay married and she’s as fierce as a feral cat fighting off these three lunkheads. There’s lots of screaming and kicking and being tied up with phone cord.

Ivan takes advantage of the mayhem and runs away.

Ani kicks Garnick in the face, breaks his nose and possibly gives him a concussion. Igor is quietly observing Ani and seems sympathetic to her problem. Toros tries to talk sense to Ani about the power of the parents. Finally he offers her $10,000 if she’ll help them find Ivan and go to Vegas for the annulment.

The parents arrive, the hunt for Ivan ends with him too drunk to walk, and the whole bunch head for Vegas.

The final scenes end with a twist as Igor waits with Ani until they can go to the bank for her cash. Ani finally drops her tough facade at the very end for a touching finish to the story.

Anora has great ratings and many euphoric reviews. I personally didn’t think it was 100% fabulous. I was turned off by the male gaze at Ani as a sex object. I understand she was a professional sex object, but it was a lot. The film was funny and heartbreaking at the same time. Mikey Madison did a fantastic job with her character. Sean Baker directed.

The film is still in theaters. I don’t know which streamer will have it when the theater run is over, but Hulu is most likely because Neon has a deal with Hulu. Keep an eye out for it.