Anora (2024) – Movie Review
I was initially on the fence about watching Anora—I wasn’t sure if it would be my type of film. However, what caught my attention was the story, which is somewhat reminiscent of Cinderella.
The movie follows Anora (who goes by Annie), a stripper in New York struggling to make ends meet. She works full-time but has no healthcare benefits, workers’ compensation, or financial security. It seems like she lives with a family member or a friend, and we see her doing everything she can to improve her life.
One day, her boss tells her about a wealthy Russian client who has come in. Since she knows a little Russian, she is encouraged to entertain him. This man turns out to be the son of a Russian billionaire. He spoils her with lavish gifts, private flights, and expensive experiences. Eventually, he asks her to accompany him on a one-week trip to Las Vegas, offering to pay her to be his girlfriend during that time.
During the trip, Annie meets his Russian friends and enjoys a luxurious, carefree week. As the days pass, she and the billionaire appear to develop feelings for each other. By the end of the trip, he proposes marriage—not just for love, but so he can stay in the U.S. and avoid returning to Russia. At first, Annie takes it as a joke, but eventually, she agrees.
After their quick wedding, they enjoy a two-week honeymoon, during which Annie quits her job and fully embraces this new lifestyle. However, when his wealthy family discovers that he has married a stripper, they disapprove. His father hires men to intervene and annul the marriage.
One night, these men show up at their home, and instead of protecting Annie, her husband flees, leaving her alone with the henchmen. Surprisingly, Annie and one of them decide to team up to track him down across New York. When they finally find him, he’s intoxicated and indifferent—revealing that the dream life she thought she was building might not have been real after all.
His family arrives from Russia, forcing an annulment. Annie tries to push back, arguing that since there was no prenup, she deserves financial compensation for everything she endured. However, they refuse and instead send her back to Vegas to finalize the annulment. In the end, she walks away with only $10,000 and no job, leaving her right back where she started—except now, she has lost everything she had built.
Themes & Final Thoughts
At its core, Anora explores the idea of the American Dream—Annie wants more for herself. She isn’t ashamed of being a stripper, but she dreams of traveling, experiencing more in life, and breaking free from her struggles. The film does a great job of capturing her ambition, resilience, and vulnerability. Some of the most powerful moments are when she simply asks for a moment to breathe, cries alone in a bathroom, or fights back against the forces trying to control her. These scenes add depth to her character and make her feel real.
While I appreciated the storytelling, I did feel that some scenes—particularly the numerous sex scenes—were excessive. I understand that they are meant to reflect her profession and relationship, but there were more than necessary for the story to be effective.
Overall, Anora is a compelling film with strong character development and an engaging narrative. While it left me with mixed emotions, I found its themes thought-provoking and its portrayal of Annie’s journey both heartbreaking and powerful.
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