Anora (2024): Review and Summary
“Anora” is probably going to be one of the funniest sex comedies you’ve seen that are heavy on the sex and got released beyond a limited release in theaters.
Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
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| Film Length | 2 Hour 19 Minutes |
| Advisory Rating | Rated R |
| Release Date | October 18, 2024 |
| Initially Available On/Via | Theatrical |
| Genre(s) | Comedy, Drama, Romance, Young Adult |
| Distributor | Neon |
| Director | Sean Baker |
| Writer | Sean Baker |
| Based On Work By | N/A |
| Character Name | Actor |
| Anora | Mikey Madison |
| Ivan | Mark Eldelshtein |
| Toros | Karren Karagulian |
| Garnick | Vache Tovmasyan |
| Igor | Yura Borisov |
Plot Summary
23-year-old Anora, preferably Ani, is an exotic dancer who isn’t against doing a bit more if the money is right. Ivan takes advantage of that and goes from a one-off to a week to wanting to get married. But, with Ivan from a powerful Russian family, there is a need to question if this marriage can handle all that will be thrown at the immature, 21-year-old Ivan and the born-and-raised girl from Brooklyn.
Character Descriptions
Anora (Ani)
Not much is known about 23-year-old Anora, who prefers to go by Ani. We know she lives with her sister and boyfriend and was raised around her Russian grandmother but beyond that? The only thing known about her is that she is a stripper who isn’t against going beyond what happens in private rooms if the price is right.
- The actor is also known for their role in “All Souls.”
Ivan
The son of a rich and powerful Russian family, Ivan is 21 and loves to party. Mind you, his parties aren’t exclusive to his socio-economic class or other Russians, and his love of spending money attracts all kinds of people.
Toros
Toros is Ivan’s godfather, mainly by title, but primarily, what Ivan’s family wants from Toros is to keep Ivan out of trouble, bring him in line if he does get in trouble, and be his babysitter while Ivan is in America.
Garnick
Garnick, Toros’ brother, suffers the most as Toros is tasked with cracking down on Ivan’s antics, especially since Anora is a spitfire who has no issue getting violent with a grown man, despite her size.
Igor
Igor is part of Toros’ entourage and is expected to ensure Ivan is safe despite him constantly inviting chaos. Igor is also one of the few who treats Anora as more than a sex worker.
Other Noteworthy Information
- Movie Contains: Cursing, Notable Fight Scenes, Nudity, Sexual Situations (Explicit), Drinking, Drug Use, Vomiting, Smoking
- The distributor is also known for “Babes.”
- The director is also known for “The Florida Project.”
Review
Our Rating: Positive (Worth Seeing)
Audience
Anora is for those who like sex comedies, where the sex is soft-core, and jokes are a mix of miscommunication and bumbling idiots.
Highlights
It’s Hilarious
“Anora” is hilarious in multiple ways. From Anora’s beef with some of the girls at the club, the Russian-English miscommunication we see between her and Ivan, and then there are Ivan’s associates. Toros, his brother Gronik, and their associate Igor make this movie hilarious. Add in Ivan’s antics at times, and the combination is wild.
On The Fence
The Sex
While Ani is a professional, the sex scenes are the type which aren’t meant to be tantalizing. Yes, both Madison and Eldelshtein are naked, and you see their bare bodies grinding and bumping against one another, but it’s as sexy as that description.
Now, this would make sense if the scenes were meant to be funny, but that doesn’t always seem like the case. So, while there is an initial shock or awe since Madison seems fairly comfortable in her sexuality, after a while, it just feels a tad excessive—especially the last sex scene.
You Don’t Really Get To Know Anora
Alongside many sex workers using fake names to maintain privacy and create a sense of security, it is also part of creating a fantasy, and I’d submit that you don’t get beyond the fantasy when it comes to Anora. Yes, we see her home, and there is occasional interaction between her and her sister and people at the club. But, as for what led to Anora becoming a stripper, what are her long-term goals, and what led her from being a dancer to being willing to have sex for money? That’s hard to say since you don’t get those details.
I would even say that character development isn’t the focus of “Anora” as much as it focuses on the story and watching what Anora goes through as the rise and fall of her relationship with Ivan plays out.
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