Anora, also called Ani (Mikey Madison), can only speak a bit of broken Russian, but that is more than the other sex workers in the strip club in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn can offer on that particular night, and so she is the one keeping young oligarch son Ivan, called Vanya (Mark Eydelshteyn) company. Vanya isn’t just clearly stinking rich, but also handsome, pretty charming, and playful, actually a teenager. When he isn’t hiring escorts or throwing a party, he plays Playstation. When Vanya books Anora’s services for an exclusive week, it’s easy for her to say yes, and when he suggests marriage out of nowhere during a trip to Las Vegas, she agrees.

This is how a screwball comedy gets rolling, which, despite all the glamour on the one hand and idiotic gangster slapstick on the other, never loses sight of the social and economic realities. As soon as Vanya’s parents in Russia find out that their treasure married a “Russian whore“, they send “Uncle“ Toros and his henchman Garnick with assistant Igor in order to settle things. The three men, we quickly find out, really are more uncles than mobsters. They are helpless against the angry and determined Ani. Vanya, for his part, runs away and a kind of chase ensues.

ANORA, which won the Golden Palm at Cannes, tells an anti-fairy tale in bright neon colors with a gifted flair for tempo and timing. The centerpiece of the 35 mm film is the long confrontation scene between Ani, Vanya, and the uncle trio, which pretty much takes place in real time and feels improvised in its organic escalation. The parties have the energy of parties, and the scenes in the strip club hold the balance between the guests' nightlife perspective and the club as a work and everyday place for the employees.

Hendrike Bake (INDIEKINO MAGAZIN)

Translation: Elinor Lewy