“Anora”: Sean Baker’s film that swept the 2025 Oscars
Sean Baker has done it again. “Anora”, his eighth film, has made history in independent cinema by winning the Oscar for Best Picture at the 2025 ceremony. This unexpected victory not only confirms the director’s mastery in portraying society’s margins with sensitivity and realism but also elevates auteur cinema to the pinnacle of the film industry.
A fairy tale, Baker-style
The story of “Anora” revolves around Anora, a young sex worker from Brooklyn who impulsively marries Ivan, the son of a Russian oligarch. What begins as a modern fairy tale soon turns into a chaotic odyssey when Ivan’s parents decide to travel to New York to annul the marriage.
With a screenplay full of constant twists, the film shifts between drama, black comedy, and thriller. Viewers are taken on a journey from Manhattan’s nightclubs to the cold corridors of Russian high society, in an odyssey that blends the adrenaline of a thriller with the irony of social cinema.
The origins of the film
“Anora” was born out of the close collaboration between Sean Baker and Karren Karagulian, an actor who has worked with the director since his cinematic debut with “Four Letter Words” (2000). Baker was aware of Karagulian’s connection to Brooklyn’s Russian-American community through his wife, which served as inspiration for shaping the story.
One of the film’s key moments is a home invasion led by Toros, the character played by Karagulian. Following orders from an influential Russian oligarch, the operation takes an unexpected turn and ends in disaster, further complicating the plot.
This is how Ani, short for Anora, was born. Baker envisioned this character as a Uzbek-American dancer and sex worker from Brighton Beach who, on impulse, marries Ivan, the oligarch’s son. However, her happiness is threatened when Ivan’s parents discover the wedding from Russia and travel to New York with the intention of annulling the marriage. Meanwhile, Toros orders his trusted men, Garnick and Igor, to keep an eye on the couple. But events spiral out of control: Ivan manages to escape, and Ani proves she is not willing to give up without a fight.
With time running out and mounting pressure from Ivan’s parents, Ani is forced to team up with Toros and his crew in a frantic overnight chase, determined not to let anyone take away the life she has started to build.
Mikey Madison: The breakout star of the year
At the heart of the film is Mikey Madison, whose portrayal of Anora is both fierce and vulnerable. Known for her work in “Better Things” and “Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood”, Madison delivers a performance already being hailed as one of the most iconic in recent cinema. Her transformation into Ani, from a streetwise survivor to a woman determined to take control of her destiny, is the soul of Anora.
Baker’s aesthetic and realism
Shot on 35mm and with meticulous visual composition, “Anora” departs from the documentary style of “Tangerine” or “The Florida Project” while retaining the authenticity that defines Baker’s cinema. Drew Daniels’ cinematography, inspired by 1970s films, gives the movie a distinctive visual texture. The neon lights of Las Vegas, the biting winter of New York, and the oppressive spaces of Russian high society contrast with the warmth of the Brighton Beach community, creating a world as captivating as it is realistic.
An Oscar win that redefines the rules
“Anora”’s triumph at the Oscars, where it secured five of the most prestigious awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Editing for Sean Baker, as well as Best Actress for Mikey Madison, marks a watershed moment in the industry. In a year dominated by major studios betting on blockbuster productions, Baker and his team proved that independent cinema can not only compete but also emerge victorious.
With a story that blends humour, tension, and sharp social commentary, “Anora” stands as a testament to Baker’s talent and his ability to give voice to characters who rarely find a place on the big screen.
“Anora” was presented in Spain in the Perlak section of the 72nd San Sebastián Film Festival before its theatrical release on 31 October. The film will now be re-released, expanding from its current 48 cinemas to 130, including the country’s most prominent cinema circuits.
The Best: Sean Baker’s script and direction, Mikey Madison’s outstanding performance, the intensity of the road movie as Ani desperately searches for Ivan, and, of course, the ending.
The Worst: Mark Eydelshteyn’s (Ivan) performance has moments—especially in the first half—where it feels overly exaggerated and heavy. Some of the music choices in the early scenes also feel slightly out of place.
Highly recommended.
Enjoy it on board Air Europa flights in March and April 2025.
(*) Photos provided by UPI Media.
