This film has been described as the “film of the year” and it has finally dropped on to streaming platforms. Anora is a romantic drama film written, directed, produced, and edited by Sean Baker. It stars Mikey Madison and Mark Eydelshteyn. The supporting cast includes Yura Borisov, Karren Karagulian, Vache Tovmasyan, Darya Ekamasova, and Aleksei Serebryakov. Anora premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024, where it received critical acclaim and won the Palme d’Or. 

Anora received numerous accolades. The film was named one of the top ten films of 2024 by the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute. The film received six nominations at the 97th Academy Awards, winning five for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (Madison), Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing. It is one of only four films in history to win both the Palm d’Or and the Oscar for Best Picture.

The film’s synopsis reads: “Sean Baker’s Palme d’Or winner ANORA is an audacious, thrilling, and comedic variation on a modern-day Cinderella story. Mikey Madison (ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD) captivates as Ani, a young sex worker from Brooklyn whose life takes an unexpected turn when she meets and impulsively marries Vanya, the impetuous son of a Russian billionaire. However, when Vanya’s parents catch wind of the union, they send their henchmen to annul the marriage, setting off a wild chase through the streets of New York.”

Anora has an impressive 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the critics’ consensus stating: “Another marvellous chronicle of America’s strivers by writer-director Sean Baker, given some extra pizzazz by Mikey Madison’s brassy performance, Anora is a romantic drama on the bleeding edge.”

One critic said: “It’s a rollercoaster ride, yet Baker never confuses movement with action. Every twist takes you somewhere you hadn’t quite expected to be, revealing an emotion you hadn’t expected to share.”

A fan of the movie described it as “one of the year’s best films”, adding: “Extremely entertaining from beginning to end, Anora is a film that does not let up. Mikey Madison gives a career-defining performance alongside a fantastic supporting cast. Mark Eydelshteyn is a standout in the first act as Ivan/Vanya, but once he runs away, Yura Borisov steals the show every time he’s on-screen as Igor. The film is full of suspense, comedy, and raw emotion. Hats off to Sean Baker for editing the film himself as well because this is a 139-minute film, and it flies by like it’s half that.”

Another fan awarded it five stars and said the film was a “masterpiece”.

Anora is available to stream now on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.