In a scene in Vegas, a character refers to “McCarran Airport”
Tale
Anora, a young sex worker from Brooklyn, impulsively meets and marries the son of an oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairy tale is threatened as her parents fly to New York to have the marriage annulled. Sean Baker wanted to cast Yura Borisov after seeing him in Kupe br. 6 (2021).. While Las Vegas International Airport was known as McCarran International Airport for many decades, its name was changed to Harry Reid International Airport in late 2021. Igor: PLEASE! STOP! SCREAM!.
Referenced in Close-Up: Anora (2024)
Daddy AFWritten and starring Catherine Slater (aka Slayyter). In his previous films (“Tangerine,” “Red Rocket,” “The Florida Project”), writer/director Sean Baker has regularly tackled a variety of themes, including the plight of immigrants and the struggles of sex workers. One of the hallmarks of Baker’s work is the constant respect he shows his characters. While embodying all of the above, “Anora” is infused with a slight tinge of optimism, a vein of hope, and a lead character with attitude and a healthy dose of self-respect. These improvements over his previous work make “Anora” a must-see. Baker’s best film to date. When Anora (who asks to be called Ani—sounds like “Annie”) meets Ivan, the son of a Russian oligarch, it’s not a meet-cute. They first come face-to-face at a strip club.
Ani is one of the strippers
A lot of money changes hands during Ivan’s initial infatuation. He buys Ani’s time for a night, then a week. Ever the practical girl, Ani always needs money up front. Although she seems to be having fun with Ivan, she remains clear-eyed about her role and place. Everything changes during a substance-filled trip to Vegas that ends with a marriage proposal, a four-carat ring, and a trip to one of the Strip’s wedding chapels. Ani moves in with Ivan at her parents’ gated three-story mansion in Brighton Beach. When news gets back to Russia, the oligarch and his young trophy wife are not impressed. They board a private jet and fly to the United States to have the marriage annulled.
Madison’s Ani is incandescent
The film is filled with Russian actors playing Russians, with several Armenians thrown in for good measure. But all eyes are on Mikey Madison (“Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood,” “Scream,” the TV series “Better Things”) in the title role. She’s confident, smart, sassy and very realistic about her place in the world. She goes about her sex work in a matter-of-fact way that shields her from perpetual cynicism and despair. By the time the movie has gained momentum, every moviegoer with a soul is rooting for Ani. It’s Madison’s charm and magnetism that elevates “Anora” from a good movie to a great one. Along the way, Baker makes some interesting observations about immigrants trying to find their place, even temporarily, in the American melting pot.
Sex work is neither glorified nor vilified
We see the clothes that are just a little off, the struggles with a new language and the all-too-frequent laughter and bravado that try to hide how hard everyone is working just to try to fit in. These grafts also demonstrate that sycophancy knows no national boundaries. Baker also has a clear-eyed view of sex workers. While the film contains frequent sex scenes and lots of nudity, it is neither pornographic nor voyeuristic. The film shows that sex for money is a source of last resort for people who would otherwise have few or no options for financial survival. As it evolves, “Anora” avoids many pitfalls. It never veers into “Pretty Woman” territory. It gives us a flawed character we all want to root for.