Anora: A Neon-Coloured Fairytale of the Grimm Not the Disney Variety
By Maisie MacDonald, Third Year, Geography
Anora portrays the infatuation between a stripper Anora (Madison) and Vanya Zakharov (Eydelshteyn), the son of a Russian oligarch. Anora, who would much rather be called Ani, first meets Vanya at the club she works at. As Ani is the only stripper in this Manhattan club who speaks Russian, her boss introduces the two and what follows is Ani getting whisked into a life she could only dream of, think Vegas trips and impromptu green card marriages.
Mikey Madison brings Anora to life with an amazing performance and superb accent, making her character instantly charming. Ani's confidence and joy radiate off the screen, drawing you into the film's world. She is no damsel in distress either, Ani knows how to handle herself. For instance, in one memorable scene, she takes on a mob of goons with great success (and yes, the actors performed all their own stunts).
Ani's fighting prowess may reflect a broader feeling for women, an ability to live vicariously through the film, to be in a world where they are ready to stave off attackers. As Saoirse Ronan highlighted on The Graham Norton Show, this apprehension and vigilance is something that is all too common for women. It's even more pertinent for sex workers, as a study of indoor sex workers in New York revealed that 46% had been victims of violence. Yet, there are times when Ani's self-preservation is no match for the Zakharov family. Their wealth and power pry away the autonomy she usually wields as she fights these battles, both literal and emotional, until the very end.
On the other hand, Vanya is a goofy and lovable twenty-year old who wants nothing more than to stay in the US and build his life there. In some ways, both he and Ani are at odds with their Russianness. Vanya is desperate to avoid his fate of returning there, whilst Ani refuses to speak Russian, even though it connects her to her grandmother, who taught her the language. Both characters crave to be their own individuals, they yearn to embody the freedom associated with being 'an american'. This undercurrent of exploring their identity is important to the film as it progresses and the characters learn more about the Russian enclave of Brighton Beach, New York.
Vanya and Ani enjoy their time together; they party in Vanya's (parent's) mansion and bet big in Vegas casinos, yet their relationship is never founded on equal power. The time that Ani spends with Vanya is paid for, first by the hour, then when Vanya pays Ani to be his 'horny girlfriend'. Vanya is wasteful with his money, he throws it around trying to keep his power, but as the film progresses it becomes clear that this power and money is not his own, it is his parents, and his outrageous behaviour seems to be a protest against them, a way to assert his independence. Ani wholeheartedly believes that Vanya will fight for them, before they get married, she questions his intentions and ultimately decides to trust him. Why she does this is unclear, perhaps she wants to believe that in trusting him she has found safety, she has 'made it'. Even if she is an independent twenty-three year old, making her way through the world and chasing her dreams, is the idea of security so bad? But this trust she had in Vanya does not last when she realises that Vanya is nothing but a spoilt brat, who still uses derogatory language towards sex workers and is unwilling, or unable, to put it all on the line for their love.
The ending allows us a glimpse into Ani's fragility, her emotions and inner workings. In a rare moment of stillness, there is a pause in the whirlwind, and the chaos of the past two-week finally catches up to her. It's a breath she didn't realise she was holding in and the pause, it feels like an exhale.
What did you think of Anora?