Anora is the latest example of how director Sean Baker creates protagonists drawn from the most neglected and marginalized characters in our society. The strength of his characters stems from this fractured world, the hostile environment, and the inevitable hardships that accompany the individuals he portrays on screen. Now it’s the turn of Ani (Mikey Madison), a sex worker who crosses paths with the son of a Russian oligarch, and her world changes unexpectedly overnight.

As the camera roams through the nightclub, introducing us to Ani and her friends, the director creates a subtle yet powerful introduction to the film’s central character. A few shots and lines are all it takes for Mikey Madison to reveal Ani—a young woman with the cunning of a battle-hardened warrior. Moments later, we meet Ivan (Mark Eydelshteyn), the naïve, immature, and negligent rich kid. It is through these two characters that Anora’s screenplay takes shape. Baker maximizes every detail of Ani and Ivan to create a dark comedy that uses romance to peel back the deepest layers of Ani.

The first act of Anora is as effervescent as the sexual passion Ivan feels for Ani. The brisk editing and music accentuating each frame bring us to the edge of a music video. Our protagonists live a dreamlike moment, with Ani portrayed as a modern Cinderella. At this climax, Anora lands its first punch, bringing us back to reality. The pace shifts completely in the second and third acts of the film. The humor persists but becomes more ruthless; we feel for Ani and detest her reality. Mikey Madison takes full control, delivering a mesmerizing performance. The camera captures her inner and outer strength in majestic close-ups. Anora is a frenetic and delirious journey in which director Sean Baker gives a strong voice to a figure often marginalized and relegated in cinema to a secondary role. Ani is more than her means of survival, and as the film progresses, we see that beneath the armor is a young woman with doubts, fears, and a longing for a safe haven. It’s impossible not to connect with such a well-developed and charismatic character. Ani’s journey culminates brilliantly in a final sequence where we finally see her let her guard down in a moment that is both devastating and comforting.