Quartile rating: 5/10 · 2 ratings
A young sex worker from Brooklyn gets her chance at a Cinderella story when she meets and impulsively marries the son of an oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairytale is threatened as his parents set out to get the marriage annulled.
Anora is a standout of 2024 cinema — Sean Baker's screwball-drama hybrid is genuinely distinctive in voice and execution. The plot masterfully pivots from euphoric romance to chaotic farce to heartbreak, earning a 4 for its structural ambition and emotional payoff. The acting is exceptional across the board: Yura Borisov is a revelation and Mikey Madison's performance is raw and fully inhabited. The ending — quiet, devastating, and deeply human — is among the year's best. Novelty is high because Baker has crafted something truly singular: a Cinderella story told with grit, comedy, and class-conscious fury that feels like no other film. Cinematography is competent and often kinetic but not as visually distinguished as the other elements — it serves the story well without being a major artistic statement, keeping it at a solid above-average 3.