Sean Baker’s ‘Anora’ Captivates Telluride and Generates Oscar Heat for Mikey Madison
People are falling in love with “Anora.”
Sean Baker has made his mark on indie cinema with notable features such as “The Florida Project” and “Red Rocket.” His latest film, “Anora,” a reimagining of “Pretty Woman” that trades Richard Gere’s debonair corporate raider for Mark Eydelshteyn’s sex-crazed son of a Russian oligarch, is his most accessible project yet. And just as “Pretty Woman” launched Julia Roberts into the stratosphere, Mikey Madison’s turn as a less glamorous sex worker has made her the year’s breakout performer. Following its Palme d’Or win at Cannes in May, the film made its U.S. premiere at the Telluride Film Festival to a sold-out crowd. Its subsequent screenings were turning away approximately 200 people at each, making it one of the hottest tickets at the festival alongside Sony’s “Saturday Night” and Netflix’s “Emilia Perez.”
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The film follows Anora (Madison), a sex worker from Brooklyn who marries a rich Russian heir (Eidelstein), which makes his shadowy businessman father and his even more terrifying mother very, very unhappy. Their fury over the impulsive unions triggers a series of unfortunate events and puts their relationship to the test.
Telluride served as an Oscar litmus test for the film — a bonkers comedy with outrageous scenes you wouldn’t expect a conventional cinephile or AMPAS voter to embrace. But they seem to be.
One producer in attendance who saw the film told Variety, “I loved the film, and I need to work with Mikey Madison ASAP.”
This sentiment echoed throughout the Colorado resort town, where Madison’s masterful performance as the title character was the talk of the festival. At 25, Madison will be the youngest competitor in the best actress race, potentially emerging as one of its few sure-fire bets alongside Angelina Jolie (“Maria”).
Neon, which made history with “Parasite’s” best picture win, all eyes are on the Oscars. The indie studio is expected to put its full weight behind “Anora.”
Baker has yet to find himself in the thick of Oscar’s attention for his past work, which tends to get more traction with critics’ groups. “Tangerine” (2015) was a significant breakout for the filmmaker, garnering nominations from the Independent Spirit Awards. “The Florida Project” (2017) earned widespread acclaim for its star Willem Dafoe, who won several precursor awards and was nominated for best supporting actor at the Oscars. While “Red Rocket” marked a notable comeback for star Simon Rex, he only managed to win a best actor trophy from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.
That may change with “Anora.” In fact, Baker, known for his explicitly sexual content in his movies, could find himself mirroring Chloé Zhao’s four-nomination day for “Nomadland.” If that happens he would be nominated for his work as a producer, director, writer, and editor. His vision is fully realized in “Anora,” with audiences loving the wild and profane adventure that could become one of the awards season’s critical darlings.
Baker’s signature talent for discovering new and exciting actors is fully displayed in “Anora.” Festival attendees are already rallying behind two standout supporting performances: Eydelshteyn as an overzealous, spoiled rich kid, and Yura Borisov as a quietly commanding bodyguard. Both men are worthy of supporting actor consideration, though vote-splitting often occurs in tight races, especially with lesser-known actors.
Next, “Anora” will head to the Toronto Film Festival before traveling to the New York Film Festival. Will the buzz continue to grow for this lively romp? Watch this space.
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