A Review of Anora: What Happens When You Try To Turn A Stripper To A Housewife?
Anora is not a prostitute. She’s a stripper. There’s a difference.
I was late to the party when I saw this film, but I'm very happy that I went to see Anora. It is one of the most interesting films I've seen during my movie-watching revival. Like all the great stories throughout history, Anora begins in a strip club.
You can tell from the opening that Anora is very confident in the way it treats the women dancing and the men leering. It even lurches deeper into what that kind of life is like. We spend about 7 to 8 minutes seeing groups of luscious skinny minnies turn a regular night into a passionate one for some lucky jabronis. You also see how mind-numbing being in such an environment can be.
Things take a wild turn for our heroine, Ani (Mikey Madison) meets the 21-year-old son of some stupidly wealthy Russians who comes to her club looking for a woman he can speak to in his native language. Ani grew up in the States and doesn’t enjoy speaking Russian despite her ability to understand most of it and speak enough to get by. Rather than blow this guy off, Ani knows this is her time to shine and makes her way over to meet Ivan (Mark Eydelshteyn). Ivan is a high roller, so Ani hits him with the stripper lingo and off we go.
After spending some sexy time in the Champagne Room room, Ivan invites Ani over to his place to seal the deal on their relationship with some lovemaking. After sleeping off the hangover one gets from hanging out at a strip club with Russians (something I have personal experience with) Ani gets back up, puts on yet another sexy outfit, and makes her way over to where Ivan is staying.
Ivan's house is a mansion.
It is a house with wings and a secured gate. Ivan's parents are not regular rich. Ivan’s parents are government-destroyingly rich. Poor Ani lives in a two-bedroom with a roommate and never picks up the milk.
Once Ani is let into Ivan's fancy home, he's a perfect gentleman. He offers Ani something to drink and keeps his hands to himself. It's Ani that has to make a move on him. Ivan thinks Ani is so beautiful so he's excited when they head upstairs to a bed. Once they do that...
Ani and Ivan have sex.
It's the best three to four minutes for Ivan. Ivan pays the agreed-upon fee, but he doesn’t want to lose Ani and asks if he can see her tomorrow. Ivan wants her to come to his NYE party. Ivan wants to take Ani to Las Vegas with his friends. Ivan is willing to pay for all of this because his parents are richer than God. In Vegas, Ivan and Ani decide to get married. Ivan puts a 4-karat diamond ring on Ani's finger. It's the kind of rock you leave your stripper job for, which is exactly what Ani is going to do when she gets home.
Ani and Ivan have only been hanging out for one week while Ivan pays for everything they do. It’s love at first, second, and third sight. It is every stripper’s fantasy to live in the magic of a neverending transaction. Ani loves every minute of this new life she’s attained and won’t let anyone take it away from her.
Should I watch Anora?
Judging a person’s maturity can be difficult sometimes.
Honestly, I'm surprised you haven't already seen it. This film has a lot more gas in the tank. It splits off into a sharp turn and the things you'll notice the most is how Ani talks and what she's willing to do to protect herself.
In other words, this movie is great and you should absolutely see it. This is especially true if you're kind of sleazy and feel obligated to see breasts and skinny minnies in your movies.
The big question here is whether or not Ani will be able to keep the fairy tale life she's found. She's going to do everything in her power to make sure she does. Anora doesn't leave without a fight. My recommendation is that you go check this film out. It's a little sexy, there are a few breasts, lots of dramatic fighting, etc, but we're all adults here, right? Take a chance on what could be a modern classic.
