Thanks so much for watching! If you've already seen Anora, let us know your thoughts on it! Up next, check out our recent video analyzing Nicole Kidman's slightly scandalous new movie Babygirl: th-cam.com/video/oaxjrJPtxQw/w-d-xo.html
I love how the story illustrates how little chemistry these two have. Anora never expresses interest in his video games, and he never offers a controller. We never see them talking about their passions or even their worldviews, and even at parties, they are often isolated by crowds. It telegraphs the falsehood of their "love" long before any oligarch enters the picture.
Precisely, he never even explains to Ani what's going on in terms of the video games, doesn't invite her to join in, and never maintains eye contact during their sexual encounters. Proof that he's merely a rich man child.
Preach, Ivan never even explains to Ani what's happening in terms of his video games, and clearly doesn't view her as his equal partner. He's merely a spoiled man child.
True which is why I found it incredibly unbelievable that she felt he loved her. Their relationship is purely transactional, he’s no charming liar he acts like a kid with autism the whole movie. She’s not even trying to exploit him as she would any other person. It was disappointing. When Vanya calls her stupid I laughed 😂 it’s true how stupid do u have to be for that guy to call u out
This movie is really a rollercoaster of emotions. From feeling butterflies to laughing out loud to bawling my eyes out and feeling empty inside, it really should be a case study in balancing different tones.
"the dawning realisation that he's not at all the prince charming she had imagined". Anora is a survivor above all else. A hustler. I don't think she was a naive little girl who actually thought that Vanya was a prince charming. She knew this wouldn't last. She fought the annulment because she was losing a meal ticket for life, not because of love. Who in her profession, with her level of experience with various types of men falls in love with a customer? Are you serious? She knew the marriage wouldn't last, but at least it would allow her to escape her current socio-economic state. That's why she fought so hard against the annullment. By the end of the film she becomes more human than she was in a long time. Igor actually wanted to kiss her. He did not judge her, he liked her for what she was, and she began crying because she never felt that OR she hadn't felt that in awhile, given her profession where every intercation is transactional. Let's not forget that Igor is the one who points out that Anora means 'Light', because during the events of the film she always presents herself as Ani not Anora.
And she does have some attraction to Ivan and tries to get closer to him, plus she expresses an interest in joining his family because she's pretty much estranged from hers.
Igor was the only person who was really nice to Ani, and comforted her after Ivan callously abandoned her. He clearly knows how she feels, after years of trying to bail Ivan out of trouble, and Ani has now made a real human connection, and become more at touch with her true self.
how does igor go from being so needlessly rough with ani in the living room to being “really nice to ani”? like what showed you he grew as a character?
@@ipsilonia He said he only restrained her for her own good, considering how the fight kept escalating. I agree it's disturbing to have been laughing at a petite woman forced into panic mode. Ivan never even mentioned the goons would be coming, or that they weren't out to hurt her, the lout.
I read on TVTropes that one theory to Anora's crying jag is because she recognizes that Igor had always been trying to bail Ivan out of trouble and didn't want the same for her. I agree when he says she's better off not in the family.
Omg I love how you described Cinderella! Nowadays people keep bullshitting on Disney classics not actually seeing the story. Its usually less than 10% of a screen time for prince in fairytales; and actually a person who gave her something was another woman - her fairy gmthr. Who actually give her the opportunity! On a new life. not the prince. Happily ever after only a promise of a prince and it is gonna happen AFTER the movie
Anora is a masterpiece! The script, the cinematography, the casting, the character development, the concept, ... everything was impeccable! The final scene completely captures what the film is all about thematically. It's an exploration of the differences between transactional sexual relationships and genuine connections.
As a Russian speaker, I appreciate the fact that Sean Baker casted authentic Russian-speaking actors for this movie. It’s extremely rare in Hollywood. Nothing is more cringe than hearing a horrendous attempt at speaking Russian from American actors.
Mikey Madison was phenomenal in this film, I've never seen her in anything else, but I just might check out her other filmography. In addition, "Pretty Woman" was initially conceived as a dark look at prostitution, until the studio made them market it as a typical romantic comedy. This film seems reminiscent of that concept.
The scene where Ani is held hostage in Vanya’s mansion isn’t just played for laughs. It’s simultaneously very funny and very scary and dark. That’s the genius of the film - that it finds a way to elicit such different emotions all at once.
That's how I saw it too. It was obviously entertaining and slapsticky, but until they left the house I was also constantly worried that it would escalate - like they didn't come with the intention to hurt Anora, but would do it if they saw it as necessary. I was nervous of Toros' arrival, that he would be the actual violent gangster and that's why everyone listened to him. I was worried that Garnick would snap after Anora broke his nose. I felt the tension set up by Igor being told in the car that he was there in case Vanyas friends (which includes Anora) wanted to fight - he was set up as the classic heavy, and even though it became clear he didn't want to hurt Anora, there was the possibility his "instinct" would kick in when Anora attacked him, or that he would use too much force because he's not used to fighting slender women who are barely over 5 ft. It was mainly funny, but there was a threatening undertone that didn't let me relax for the entire scene.
I loved this movie. Was not expecting that final scene. There's definitely more to unpack with her character, and i liked that the script doesn't entirely spell out her backstory. We're welcome to fill in the blanks.
The best part of Anora is that unlike a lot of films exploring serious issues, it is actually enjoyable to watch. Yes, the story is not new and the idea is clear, but the storytelling is great and actors play really well.
I didn't view the henchmen arrival scene as funny. Idk if anyone else saw it that way. I've done SW here and there so I understood her struggle. I find Anora as a relatable character because she isn't always likeable and that's how real people are. No matter how much she insulted Igor he didn't (or tried not to) treat her badly. The ending made me sad because the fact is for many AFAB people, we feel our interactions with men are transactional. She didn't have to give anything to Igor to earn his kindness, he saw her as a human being who deserves kindness because she's a person. Her breaking down made me bawl my eyes out because I've experienced this with my current partner. I don't have to do anything to be treated decently, and that's a low fucking bar for men and I don't applaud my partner for this. I wasn't expecting this movie to hit me like it did.
I worked in NYC as a stripper for a few months and also at HQ (the club in the movie). Anora captured what I went through and felt. Being a sex worker can be a rewarding experience, but I hate NYC
Igor's the first one to see her and treat her as a human. He actually cared. For Ivan, (and all men she met in her life) like he said she was just an escort who made his trip more fun. A thing he used and left, similarly to her job. She was betrayed by him because she thought he actually liked her and saw her and because she fell for him and though he was different. Throughout the movie u can see Igor actually Notice and care about her and treat her like a human. The endings still a little foggy for me but I think that it might be her trying to suppress feelings she has for Igor by doing what she did because when she's sexual with men thats mostly a feelingless job and she can kinda dissociate. But when he tries to kiss her she opposes because that's more intimate and romantic, Its not just sex, a job. Also maybe why she's been harsh on him throughout the film was because she was surprised and in a way weirded out by him being different towards her and actually noticing her and caring. Some people have been theorizing this was the only way she knew how to thank him but i think the first theory i found somewhere is more correct.
If Cinderella had planned to go to the ball to meet a rich man, would people think less off her? If she actively participated, sewed her own dress, found her own ride, flirted; would she be conniving? She wasn't saved by a man but would it be wrong if she wanted to be? The heart of gold stuff is nice but what's wrong with hustle? And what if after all that the prince is actually a dick with mommy issues? Ani possibly dreamed too big and hustled harder, but I appreciate that the movie didn't condemn her for that. She didn't love Ivan but she believed in her idealized version of him. She wasn't stupid. A bit naive about money & power, but everyone else in the movie is doing equally if not more demeaning stuff for Vanya's parents money. By the end it was cathartic after all she went through to have a moment of genuine human connection and sympathy.
Now talk about Emilia Perez and the controversy that sparked in Mexico though to the Little investigation the director did to the three most complex real themes happening in Mexico.
Igor really stood out to me. I see Igors every day; I would even be so bold to say that a lot of men have become Igors. Igor was a henchman; he was a violent man who was hired to do his job; however, as the movie progresses, we see his internal conflict as he begins to maybe(?) sympathize with Ani. It was kind of him to stand up for Ani and suggest that Anya give her an apology, but that was also not enough. He still participated, he still stayed and completed his job. I understand that he, too, was driven by survival; maybe he needed money. But his character was not given enough depth or enough context for me to use this as a valid excuse - I'm not sure if it even is an excuse. I see how this parallels some men's approach to feminism and women's rights. A lot of men can sympathize with women. They may even offer a helping hand; however, they still participate in systems and structures that are oppressive and hurtful to women. Sympathy is nice but not enough. In this movie, there was not a single character that really empathized with Ani. That may be the point? I haven't been able to make sense of the ending of the movie, and I am not sure why it was needed. A part of me was a little disappointed.
idk the more think about the ending the more confused i get. am i being too hopefull by seeing Igor in a more positive light or am i in denial ignoring red flags? He doesnt seem tho give Anora the ring expecting something in return, but we see her absolutly change her behavior, kinda going into "club mode", her facal expression changes, her voice tone changes. To me she might have wanted to do it so that she didnt feel she owed him anythng. I dont think he gets that and once he tried to kiss her, as if to make some sort of conection she was overwhelmed because of her recent experience with Ivan, imediatly thinking of pretty woman or moulin rouge, where anything goes except kissing, because that would mean something more, and Anora isnt ready for anything of the sort, she wants to return to good old service exchange, i do one for u, u do one for me, we go our separate ways, unlike Igor, who actualy shows genuine interest in her. Howeve i have seem some coments like "oh she reacts like that because hes SAing her", and tbh i didnt see it like that. i did love this movie tho, i cant wait to rewatch it and maybe get more clarity on that ending
I interpreted more as she being unable to connect emotionally with men. She is used to interact with men through sex, and that was not what Igor wanted. That is why she cried when he tried to kiss her. That is just me though.
She literally got on him. He didn’t even make a move on her at first? He only tried to kiss her while she had gotten on him and started boning. People are really wrecked man.
Keeping in mind that I can only speak from my own experiences as a survivor of assault, and that our interpretations and reactions to depictions in film are not going to be universal (as well as the fact that while I identify as gender nonconforming, I still benefit from male-presenting privilege and that my experiences do not reflect the experiences of women who would otherwise find the situation incredibly traumatizing): I'm actually glad they went the more screwball route for the kidnapping scene rather than grounding it too hard in reality. I think it fits the tone of the second act of this film being frenetic and heightened outside of Sean Baker's normally neo-realist approach and serves the film's themes of inner-class violence better than if it was portrayed and performed more bleakly, while also deconstructing the typical one-note depictions of Russian henchmen by humanizing them as people who are similarly exploited by this family. I also do feel like the film eventually acknowledges how traumatic the situation would be when she tells Igor that she had no way of knowing whether he would sexually assault her during that altercation, and we as an audience know she is perfectly justified in assuming that it was a possible outcome in the moment. I don't say this to dismiss any of the criticisms levied towards the film regarding whether or not this scene was handled tastefully or not, and audiences have every right to feel incredibly uncomfortable with how it plays out (especially with the writer-director being a man), it just didn't bother me as much as maybe it did for other viewers. I actually felt like it served the narrative quite well, and I appreciated the blend of actors playing it completely straight in the scene against actors who definitely leaned into the comedy more.
Igor and Ani i think both use their body for their work. Any in a way that she is trained to dance on the pool, wear those heals and strip or twerk (wich i think help her to defend of this situation with the 2 guys), and Igor doing whats necesary to get what the need getting hurt on the way
anora was a frustratingly predictable, underdeveloped film about a complex issue that deserves much more thoughtful storytelling. despite the intense final scene, i was disappointed by the film as a whole. considering all the (undeserved) hype around the film, i expected the film to be much more raw and subversive. all it gave me was a tumblr-era screenplay with a main character who forces a horrible (and decidedly unnecessary) brooklyn accent and has an unexplored drive to make money. i think the film relied on a few heavy-handed scenes (including the final one) to convey a superficial message about trauma and desire, but the majority of the film was a mess, and i see a lot of viewers attempting to project sense and structure onto this film. after the henchmen show up and vanya runs away (how hard is it to catch the failson of an oligarch?!), the film’s tone shifts in an unsettling way, and the storytelling gets lazy. there’s a lot of telling (via repetitive dialogue) instead of showing (we have no idea what truly motivates igor). i read some articles lamenting baker’s use of marginalized people’s experiences to further his career… this film seems like evidence of that. i think baker has made much more thoughtful, expansive films, but anora lacked thoughtful storytelling.
Agreed, people blindly loving every part of this is confusing… read into it just a little and it doesn’t have 2 legs to stand on. It’s great for some reasons, entertaining for sure, but not without its flaws. I almost wish it was purely a comedy with more camp and without any of the forced subtext, I’d respect it more.
That was not played for laughs at all. It was super tense. You don't know what direction the movie is going to go until way after that scene. I was truly expecting ultraviolence.
I love this movie! That first half was nearly perfect, but then it went spent WAY too much time on that search for Vanya IMO. Those scenes made miniscule contributions to the story or character development, and the film would've been far more compelling and fun without the vast majority of those sequences. But still, despite that it was an amazing film and I'm so glad I had watched it, and I look forward to watching it again.
Why would they use cinderella when she had money from the beginning? Dhe was living an impoverished life because of family, not because she was a no nothing peasant. Her father was a wealthy merchant who died and left her in the care of her stepmother. A woman who took her money and home. No one can subvert the cinderella trope for the simple fact that no one understands the story. The prince 'saved' her from domestic abuse. He did not 'save' her from poverty.
This film is so overrated and with the main actresses dumb comments about not needing an intimacy co-ordinator, to her having a seat with such experienced actresses on the actors round table- we're clearly just being fed another sexualised "bought" industry clone actress.
the movie could have been great if there was more depth to Anora's character to start with, in the end we don't much about her, what she really wants, what are her motives, her goals, so many sexualised scenes to tell you what ? an ending that adds some emotion to the whole movie ok but that's it. The second part of the movie is just very random and messy, but again to tell us what? I feel it was just some "comedic" filler until the final "resolution". Overall it's just superficial, and honestly, with a step back I was like ok it was a movie made by a man for men or what
The movie inferred quite a bit about her character and depicted how she was in survival mode. By refusing to speak Russian and insisting on being called Ani instead of Anora, you can infer there's some trauma in her past surrounding her family. Judging by how she jumped at the opportunity to stop working at the strip club, you can infer she doesn't truly want to be there but probably does not think she can offer anything else of value apart from her body. She also always has her guard up and doesn't feel comfortable showing vulnerability. She is quick to think the worst of people (due to the nature of her job) and that's why she was fighting for her life when Igor came. She also repeatedly cussed out Igor who showed her kindness throughout. The second part of the movie shows you how the new life she thought she had attained was always an illusion. It came crashing down and all her hopes and dreams of escaping the life she knew were ripped apart. Vanya and his family looked down on her, and she was just a pawn in Vanya's game of rebelliousness. From the onset, Vanya knew the marriage wouldn't go anywhere; that's why he never told his parents. It's a cycle he is in, he messes up and his parents come and fix it. Meanwhile, Ani was holding onto the idea that Vanya would come through for her, even though deep down, she knew he would not when he easily abandoned her. In the scene, Vanya's parents arrive at the airport and his mum starts scolding him, he doesn't react he sits there and takes it. He even stops to compliment his mum's outfit, asking if it's from a new collection. I interpret this as him yearning to bond and spend time with his parents, especially his mother. He seems to act out to get their attention because when they come through for him that's how he sees they care about him. He is also craving an emotional connection that money can't fill. Lastly, the sex scenes depict the shallow nature of their relationship. They were always just fucking. They were never truly physically intimate since they didn't even kiss. The level of intimacy they two had when Vanya was paying Ani, stayed the same even after they got married. The marriage was superficial and had little to no emotional, mental or physical depth.
I'll be the first one to call out male ignorance/privilege, sexism, misogyny etc.. But I just really don't agree with it being a film made for men by a man. I think u just didn't get it and that's fine. But he is a great director.
Anotehr terrible take from "the take". Got to love that they spent half the video talking about how older media dont see the humans behind sex work and then spend the other half pretending Annie did not have a agency of her own
I don't want to support any content about russians/starring russians until they leave my country completely and pay reparations. You have interesting takes but never mention the crimes that are committed in Ukraine right now, that most russians fully support. Unfortunately, I have to unsubscribe.
After genocide of Ukrainians that ordinary russians are commiting, fueled by the russian oligarch money, this movie is so tone deaf and glamorizing "tragic russian soul". It's very sad that a movie like this won.
Maybe you just have a fragile ego and feel like people are calling you dumb just because they used correct terminology. Life's about learning. Explaining something isn't trying to insult your intelligence. If you think it is and are getting this triggered and offended by A word than that's a You problem of being very insecure about your intelligence and seeing every normal thing as 'trying to make u feel dumb' for some reason. Your not Allknowing calm down and leave the people alone.
@bubble_gum_witch Oh, uh, no. You see, it's impossible for anyone other than the maker of a film to "explain" the film. It's offensive to a filmmaker to claim otherwise. A person can *think* they understand something, but they don't have confirmation of that unless the filmmaker signs off on it. Which I highly doubt is happening here.
Thanks so much for watching! If you've already seen Anora, let us know your thoughts on it!
Up next, check out our recent video analyzing Nicole Kidman's slightly scandalous new movie Babygirl: th-cam.com/video/oaxjrJPtxQw/w-d-xo.html
I love how the story illustrates how little chemistry these two have. Anora never expresses interest in his video games, and he never offers a controller. We never see them talking about their passions or even their worldviews, and even at parties, they are often isolated by crowds. It telegraphs the falsehood of their "love" long before any oligarch enters the picture.
Precisely, he never even explains to Ani what's going on in terms of the video games, doesn't invite her to join in, and never maintains eye contact during their sexual encounters. Proof that he's merely a rich man child.
Preach, Ivan never even explains to Ani what's happening in terms of his video games, and clearly doesn't view her as his equal partner. He's merely a spoiled man child.
True which is why I found it incredibly unbelievable that she felt he loved her. Their relationship is purely transactional, he’s no charming liar he acts like a kid with autism the whole movie. She’s not even trying to exploit him as she would any other person. It was disappointing. When Vanya calls her stupid I laughed 😂 it’s true how stupid do u have to be for that guy to call u out
Of course , all is blamed on her.
@ I’m unsure of ur tone, are u saying that my view of the film is misogynistic? Or are u saying the film blames everything on her?
This movie is really a rollercoaster of emotions. From feeling butterflies to laughing out loud to bawling my eyes out and feeling empty inside, it really should be a case study in balancing different tones.
"the dawning realisation that he's not at all the prince charming she had imagined". Anora is a survivor above all else. A hustler. I don't think she was a naive little girl who actually thought that Vanya was a prince charming. She knew this wouldn't last. She fought the annulment because she was losing a meal ticket for life, not because of love. Who in her profession, with her level of experience with various types of men falls in love with a customer? Are you serious? She knew the marriage wouldn't last, but at least it would allow her to escape her current socio-economic state. That's why she fought so hard against the annullment. By the end of the film she becomes more human than she was in a long time. Igor actually wanted to kiss her. He did not judge her, he liked her for what she was, and she began crying because she never felt that OR she hadn't felt that in awhile, given her profession where every intercation is transactional.
Let's not forget that Igor is the one who points out that Anora means 'Light', because during the events of the film she always presents herself as Ani not Anora.
Dawning
And she does have some attraction to Ivan and tries to get closer to him, plus she expresses an interest in joining his family because she's pretty much estranged from hers.
@@MsNatiBug Thanks. English is my 2nd language.
Igor was the only person who was really nice to Ani, and comforted her after Ivan callously abandoned her. He clearly knows how she feels, after years of trying to bail Ivan out of trouble, and Ani has now made a real human connection, and become more at touch with her true self.
how does igor go from being so needlessly rough with ani in the living room to being “really nice to ani”? like what showed you he grew as a character?
@@ipsilonia He said he only restrained her for her own good, considering how the fight kept escalating. I agree it's disturbing to have been laughing at a petite woman forced into panic mode. Ivan never even mentioned the goons would be coming, or that they weren't out to hurt her, the lout.
I read on TVTropes that one theory to Anora's crying jag is because she recognizes that Igor had always been trying to bail Ivan out of trouble and didn't want the same for her. I agree when he says she's better off not in the family.
Omg I love how you described Cinderella! Nowadays people keep bullshitting on Disney classics not actually seeing the story. Its usually less than 10% of a screen time for prince in fairytales; and actually a person who gave her something was another woman - her fairy gmthr. Who actually give her the opportunity! On a new life. not the prince. Happily ever after only a promise of a prince and it is gonna happen AFTER the movie
I agree!!!
Anora is a masterpiece! The script, the cinematography, the casting, the character development, the concept, ... everything was impeccable! The final scene completely captures what the film is all about thematically. It's an exploration of the differences between transactional sexual relationships and genuine connections.
You nailed it perfectly!
As a Russian speaker, I appreciate the fact that Sean Baker casted authentic Russian-speaking actors for this movie. It’s extremely rare in Hollywood. Nothing is more cringe than hearing a horrendous attempt at speaking Russian from American actors.
Mikey Madison was phenomenal in this film, I've never seen her in anything else, but I just might check out her other filmography. In addition, "Pretty Woman" was initially conceived as a dark look at prostitution, until the studio made them market it as a typical romantic comedy. This film seems reminiscent of that concept.
i knew she would be a star when i watched her in scream
The scene where Ani is held hostage in Vanya’s mansion isn’t just played for laughs. It’s simultaneously very funny and very scary and dark. That’s the genius of the film - that it finds a way to elicit such different emotions all at once.
That's how I saw it too. It was obviously entertaining and slapsticky, but until they left the house I was also constantly worried that it would escalate - like they didn't come with the intention to hurt Anora, but would do it if they saw it as necessary. I was nervous of Toros' arrival, that he would be the actual violent gangster and that's why everyone listened to him. I was worried that Garnick would snap after Anora broke his nose. I felt the tension set up by Igor being told in the car that he was there in case Vanyas friends (which includes Anora) wanted to fight - he was set up as the classic heavy, and even though it became clear he didn't want to hurt Anora, there was the possibility his "instinct" would kick in when Anora attacked him, or that he would use too much force because he's not used to fighting slender women who are barely over 5 ft. It was mainly funny, but there was a threatening undertone that didn't let me relax for the entire scene.
I loved this movie. Was not expecting that final scene. There's definitely more to unpack with her character, and i liked that the script doesn't entirely spell out her backstory. We're welcome to fill in the blanks.
The best part of Anora is that unlike a lot of films exploring serious issues, it is actually enjoyable to watch. Yes, the story is not new and the idea is clear, but the storytelling is great and actors play really well.
I didn't view the henchmen arrival scene as funny. Idk if anyone else saw it that way. I've done SW here and there so I understood her struggle.
I find Anora as a relatable character because she isn't always likeable and that's how real people are. No matter how much she insulted Igor he didn't (or tried not to) treat her badly.
The ending made me sad because the fact is for many AFAB people, we feel our interactions with men are transactional. She didn't have to give anything to Igor to earn his kindness, he saw her as a human being who deserves kindness because she's a person. Her breaking down made me bawl my eyes out because I've experienced this with my current partner. I don't have to do anything to be treated decently, and that's a low fucking bar for men and I don't applaud my partner for this.
I wasn't expecting this movie to hit me like it did.
I worked in NYC as a stripper for a few months and also at HQ (the club in the movie). Anora captured what I went through and felt. Being a sex worker can be a rewarding experience, but I hate NYC
Igor's the first one to see her and treat her as a human. He actually cared. For Ivan, (and all men she met in her life) like he said she was just an escort who made his trip more fun. A thing he used and left, similarly to her job. She was betrayed by him because she thought he actually liked her and saw her and because she fell for him and though he was different. Throughout the movie u can see Igor actually Notice and care about her and treat her like a human. The endings still a little foggy for me but I think that it might be her trying to suppress feelings she has for Igor by doing what she did because when she's sexual with men thats mostly a feelingless job and she can kinda dissociate. But when he tries to kiss her she opposes because that's more intimate and romantic, Its not just sex, a job. Also maybe why she's been harsh on him throughout the film was because she was surprised and in a way weirded out by him being different towards her and actually noticing her and caring. Some people have been theorizing this was the only way she knew how to thank him but i think the first theory i found somewhere is more correct.
Do “The Brutalist” next! I’ve seen it twice now and plan to see it again, each time reveals so much to unpack. Especially that very abrupt ending.
Mickey went from being burned alive by rich people in OUATIH to being burned alive by rich people in Anora
Just in a different way. I hope she gets an actual happy ending.
One time I cheered, the other time I felt really sad for her
Oh I’ve been waiting for this one
If Cinderella had planned to go to the ball to meet a rich man, would people think less off her? If she actively participated, sewed her own dress, found her own ride, flirted; would she be conniving? She wasn't saved by a man but would it be wrong if she wanted to be? The heart of gold stuff is nice but what's wrong with hustle? And what if after all that the prince is actually a dick with mommy issues?
Ani possibly dreamed too big and hustled harder, but I appreciate that the movie didn't condemn her for that. She didn't love Ivan but she believed in her idealized version of him. She wasn't stupid. A bit naive about money & power, but everyone else in the movie is doing equally if not more demeaning stuff for Vanya's parents money.
By the end it was cathartic after all she went through to have a moment of genuine human connection and sympathy.
I wish it could win the Oscar of best picture, but it will likely go to The Brutalist.
Now talk about Emilia Perez and the controversy that sparked in Mexico though to the Little investigation the director did to the three most complex real themes happening in Mexico.
Igor really stood out to me. I see Igors every day; I would even be so bold to say that a lot of men have become Igors. Igor was a henchman; he was a violent man who was hired to do his job; however, as the movie progresses, we see his internal conflict as he begins to maybe(?) sympathize with Ani. It was kind of him to stand up for Ani and suggest that Anya give her an apology, but that was also not enough. He still participated, he still stayed and completed his job. I understand that he, too, was driven by survival; maybe he needed money. But his character was not given enough depth or enough context for me to use this as a valid excuse - I'm not sure if it even is an excuse.
I see how this parallels some men's approach to feminism and women's rights. A lot of men can sympathize with women. They may even offer a helping hand; however, they still participate in systems and structures that are oppressive and hurtful to women. Sympathy is nice but not enough. In this movie, there was not a single character that really empathized with Ani. That may be the point? I haven't been able to make sense of the ending of the movie, and I am not sure why it was needed. A part of me was a little disappointed.
Will have to give it a look. Thank you
idk the more think about the ending the more confused i get. am i being too hopefull by seeing Igor in a more positive light or am i in denial ignoring red flags? He doesnt seem tho give Anora the ring expecting something in return, but we see her absolutly change her behavior, kinda going into "club mode", her facal expression changes, her voice tone changes. To me she might have wanted to do it so that she didnt feel she owed him anythng. I dont think he gets that and once he tried to kiss her, as if to make some sort of conection she was overwhelmed because of her recent experience with Ivan, imediatly thinking of pretty woman or moulin rouge, where anything goes except kissing, because that would mean something more, and Anora isnt ready for anything of the sort, she wants to return to good old service exchange, i do one for u, u do one for me, we go our separate ways, unlike Igor, who actualy shows genuine interest in her. Howeve i have seem some coments like "oh she reacts like that because hes SAing her", and tbh i didnt see it like that. i did love this movie tho, i cant wait to rewatch it and maybe get more clarity on that ending
I interpreted more as she being unable to connect emotionally with men. She is used to interact with men through sex, and that was not what Igor wanted. That is why she cried when he tried to kiss her. That is just me though.
He is absolutely not in any way SAing her. At all.
People are deranged. Ffs.
She literally got on him. He didn’t even make a move on her at first? He only tried to kiss her while she had gotten on him and started boning.
People are really wrecked man.
Keeping in mind that I can only speak from my own experiences as a survivor of assault, and that our interpretations and reactions to depictions in film are not going to be universal (as well as the fact that while I identify as gender nonconforming, I still benefit from male-presenting privilege and that my experiences do not reflect the experiences of women who would otherwise find the situation incredibly traumatizing): I'm actually glad they went the more screwball route for the kidnapping scene rather than grounding it too hard in reality.
I think it fits the tone of the second act of this film being frenetic and heightened outside of Sean Baker's normally neo-realist approach and serves the film's themes of inner-class violence better than if it was portrayed and performed more bleakly, while also deconstructing the typical one-note depictions of Russian henchmen by humanizing them as people who are similarly exploited by this family. I also do feel like the film eventually acknowledges how traumatic the situation would be when she tells Igor that she had no way of knowing whether he would sexually assault her during that altercation, and we as an audience know she is perfectly justified in assuming that it was a possible outcome in the moment.
I don't say this to dismiss any of the criticisms levied towards the film regarding whether or not this scene was handled tastefully or not, and audiences have every right to feel incredibly uncomfortable with how it plays out (especially with the writer-director being a man), it just didn't bother me as much as maybe it did for other viewers. I actually felt like it served the narrative quite well, and I appreciated the blend of actors playing it completely straight in the scene against actors who definitely leaned into the comedy more.
Igor and Ani i think both use their body for their work. Any in a way that she is trained to dance on the pool, wear those heals and strip or twerk (wich i think help her to defend of this situation with the 2 guys), and Igor doing whats necesary to get what the need getting hurt on the way
anora was a frustratingly predictable, underdeveloped film about a complex issue that deserves much more thoughtful storytelling.
despite the intense final scene, i was disappointed by the film as a whole. considering all the (undeserved) hype around the film, i expected the film to be much more raw and subversive. all it gave me was a tumblr-era screenplay with a main character who forces a horrible (and decidedly unnecessary) brooklyn accent and has an unexplored drive to make money.
i think the film relied on a few heavy-handed scenes (including the final one) to convey a superficial message about trauma and desire, but the majority of the film was a mess, and i see a lot of viewers attempting to project sense and structure onto this film.
after the henchmen show up and vanya runs away (how hard is it to catch the failson of an oligarch?!), the film’s tone shifts in an unsettling way, and the storytelling gets lazy. there’s a lot of telling (via repetitive dialogue) instead of showing (we have no idea what truly motivates igor).
i read some articles lamenting baker’s use of marginalized people’s experiences to further his career… this film seems like evidence of that. i think baker has made much more thoughtful, expansive films, but anora lacked thoughtful storytelling.
Agreed, people blindly loving every part of this is confusing… read into it just a little and it doesn’t have 2 legs to stand on. It’s great for some reasons, entertaining for sure, but not without its flaws. I almost wish it was purely a comedy with more camp and without any of the forced subtext, I’d respect it more.
Okay so you just did not get the movie in the slightest
That was not played for laughs at all. It was super tense. You don't know what direction the movie is going to go until way after that scene. I was truly expecting ultraviolence.
I love this movie! That first half was nearly perfect, but then it went spent WAY too much time on that search for Vanya IMO. Those scenes made miniscule contributions to the story or character development, and the film would've been far more compelling and fun without the vast majority of those sequences. But still, despite that it was an amazing film and I'm so glad I had watched it, and I look forward to watching it again.
this movie is awesome
Such a great film
Why would they use cinderella when she had money from the beginning? Dhe was living an impoverished life because of family, not because she was a no nothing peasant. Her father was a wealthy merchant who died and left her in the care of her stepmother. A woman who took her money and home.
No one can subvert the cinderella trope for the simple fact that no one understands the story. The prince 'saved' her from domestic abuse. He did not 'save' her from poverty.
This movie sucked. First 30 minutes were good and everything after that was terrible
His wealthy oligarch parents from Russia.....nice.
Arthur Morgan is one of the greatest characters in fiction
Really wanted to enjoy this film but just couldn’t.
This film is so overrated and with the main actresses dumb comments about not needing an intimacy co-ordinator, to her having a seat with such experienced actresses on the actors round table- we're clearly just being fed another sexualised "bought" industry clone actress.
Definitely not, you really missed the point by a mile
the movie could have been great if there was more depth to Anora's character to start with, in the end we don't much about her, what she really wants, what are her motives, her goals, so many sexualised scenes to tell you what ? an ending that adds some emotion to the whole movie ok but that's it. The second part of the movie is just very random and messy, but again to tell us what? I feel it was just some "comedic" filler until the final "resolution". Overall it's just superficial, and honestly, with a step back I was like ok it was a movie made by a man for men or what
The movie inferred quite a bit about her character and depicted how she was in survival mode. By refusing to speak Russian and insisting on being called Ani instead of Anora, you can infer there's some trauma in her past surrounding her family. Judging by how she jumped at the opportunity to stop working at the strip club, you can infer she doesn't truly want to be there but probably does not think she can offer anything else of value apart from her body. She also always has her guard up and doesn't feel comfortable showing vulnerability. She is quick to think the worst of people (due to the nature of her job) and that's why she was fighting for her life when Igor came. She also repeatedly cussed out Igor who showed her kindness throughout.
The second part of the movie shows you how the new life she thought she had attained was always an illusion. It came crashing down and all her hopes and dreams of escaping the life she knew were ripped apart. Vanya and his family looked down on her, and she was just a pawn in Vanya's game of rebelliousness. From the onset, Vanya knew the marriage wouldn't go anywhere; that's why he never told his parents. It's a cycle he is in, he messes up and his parents come and fix it. Meanwhile, Ani was holding onto the idea that Vanya would come through for her, even though deep down, she knew he would not when he easily abandoned her.
In the scene, Vanya's parents arrive at the airport and his mum starts scolding him, he doesn't react he sits there and takes it. He even stops to compliment his mum's outfit, asking if it's from a new collection. I interpret this as him yearning to bond and spend time with his parents, especially his mother. He seems to act out to get their attention because when they come through for him that's how he sees they care about him. He is also craving an emotional connection that money can't fill.
Lastly, the sex scenes depict the shallow nature of their relationship. They were always just fucking. They were never truly physically intimate since they didn't even kiss. The level of intimacy they two had when Vanya was paying Ani, stayed the same even after they got married. The marriage was superficial and had little to no emotional, mental or physical depth.
I'll be the first one to call out male ignorance/privilege, sexism, misogyny etc.. But I just really don't agree with it being a film made for men by a man. I think u just didn't get it and that's fine. But he is a great director.
Anotehr terrible take from "the take". Got to love that they spent half the video talking about how older media dont see the humans behind sex work and then spend the other half pretending Annie did not have a agency of her own
Does the narrator have some kind of mouthgear going on? I'm sorry, I just find it distracting :/
First!
I don't want to support any content about russians/starring russians until they leave my country completely and pay reparations. You have interesting takes but never mention the crimes that are committed in Ukraine right now, that most russians fully support. Unfortunately, I have to unsubscribe.
After genocide of Ukrainians that ordinary russians are commiting, fueled by the russian oligarch money, this movie is so tone deaf and glamorizing "tragic russian soul". It's very sad that a movie like this won.
Gotta unsubscribe - y'all do this "explained" title way too often. It comes across as so dang arrogant. Couldn't do "explored"? Yeah, I'm out.
Maybe you just have a fragile ego and feel like people are calling you dumb just because they used correct terminology. Life's about learning. Explaining something isn't trying to insult your intelligence. If you think it is and are getting this triggered and offended by A word than that's a You problem of being very insecure about your intelligence and seeing every normal thing as 'trying to make u feel dumb' for some reason. Your not Allknowing calm down and leave the people alone.
@bubble_gum_witch Oh, uh, no. You see, it's impossible for anyone other than the maker of a film to "explain" the film. It's offensive to a filmmaker to claim otherwise. A person can *think* they understand something, but they don't have confirmation of that unless the filmmaker signs off on it. Which I highly doubt is happening here.