SYNOPSIS OF “ANORA” (2024)
"Anora" is a low budget($6m) indie film that follows the story of Anora "Ani" Mikheeva, a 23-year-old Uzbek-American stripper living in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. Ani works at an upscale Manhattan strip club, where she is introduced to Ivan "Vanya" Zakharov, the son of Russian oligarch Nikolai Zakharov. Vanya, known for his reckless lifestyle, hires Ani for several sexual encounters and they begin to grow fond of each other for their own selfish reasons, and then Vanya eventually offers her $15,000 to be his girlfriend for a week. During a trip to Las Vegas, Vanya impulsively proposes, and despite initial hesitation, Ani agrees to marry him for a three carat diamond ring(or was four?)
After their elopement, Ani quits her job and moves into Vanya's mansion. However, when news of their marriage reaches Russia, Vanya's parents are outraged. His mother, Galina, orders Vanya's Armenian godfather, Toros, to find them and arrange an annulment. Toros sends his henchmen, Garnik and Igor, to confront Vanya and Ani. In the ensuing chaos, Vanya flees (not surprising), leaving Ani to face the men alone.
Ani eventually teams up with Toros and his men to find Vanya. When they locate him, he is intoxicated and indifferent, revealing that his commitment to their marriage was superficial. Vanya's family forces an annulment, and despite Ani's attempts to negotiate financial compensation, she ends up with only $10,000 Oh! and let’s not forget her dalliance with Igor in the end in a fit of emotional frustration. The film explores themes of the American Dream, resilience, and the harsh realities faced by those caught in the crossfire of wealth and power.
"ANORA: AN OSCAR DARLING OR JUST OVERHYPED?”
So, “Anora” just walked away with five Oscars—FIVE. Out of six nominations, no less. Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actress... the whole deal. And while I won’t outright say the movie is terrible, I will say this: Was it really worth all these wins? Absolutely not. And apparently, I’m not alone in this sentiment, because audiences are already calling for the Academy to revoke some of these awards. Honestly? I get it.
First things first, the movie. “Anora” isn’t the worst thing to grace the silver screen, but let’s be real—it’s far from a cinematic masterpiece. It’s another example of how, in today’s Hollywood, success is less about the quality of storytelling and more about checking off ideological boxes. It seems like if you want to make it big in the industry, you have to subscribe to a certain worldview—one that thrives on pushing “progressive” narratives, even when they lack substance.
Now, about that speech. The lead actress, in her big Oscar moment, dedicated her win to sex workers. Yes, sex workers. Because apparently, in our wonderfully enlightened society, we’re now romanticizing prostitution like it’s an honorable, aspirational career path. And before someone jumps in with the “respect all professions” argument, let’s not pretend we don’t know exactly what’s happening here. Hollywood has been on a mission to normalize and glorify lifestyles that, for generations, were seen as cautionary tales, not goals. I mean, when did crime, immorality, and outright stupidity become artistic virtues?
To be fair, “Anora” did (mercifully) spare us the typical forced LGBTQ+ subplot, which is a miracle in itself these days. But even without that, it still follows the now-standard Hollywood formula: take a controversial or morally grey topic, dress it up in an “empowering” narrative, and watch the awards roll in. It’s predictable. It’s tired. And it’s exactly why audiences are getting fed up.
Now, let me be clear—I’m not here to slam the actors or the crew. Acting is no joke. It takes an insane amount of emotional, mental, and physical effort to bring a character to life. My issue isn’t with the performances, but with the film itself and the over-the-top praise it’s received. Winning five Oscars isn’t just a win—it’s a statement. It tells the world, “This is what we value in cinema.” And if “Anora” is the pinnacle of artistic achievement, well… that says a lot about the current state of Hollywood.
In the end, I won’t say “Anora” is trash, but I will say this: it’s nowhere near as groundbreaking as the Academy wants us to believe. If anything, its success is just further proof that Hollywood isn’t about celebrating the best in filmmaking anymore—it’s about rewarding those who play the game. And that, more than anything, is the real tragedy.
Citations:
- https://headphonesthoughts.com/2025/02/08/anora-2024-movie-review/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anora
- https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28607951/plotsummary/
- https://themoviespoiler.com/movies/anora/
- https://scriptshadow.net/movie-review-anora/
- https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/anora
- https://www.imdb.com/title/tt28607951/
- https://www.anora.film/synopsis/
