Anora (18)

Sean Baker’s outstanding Palme D’Or winner is a masterwork of tension, humour and humanity.

Baker has always been a filmmaker who marches to the beat of his own drum. From his early work like 2004’s Take Out to Tangerine, The Florida Project and 2021’s magnificent Red Rocket, there’s no denying that Baker’s thematic focus on the underrepresented and marginalised has made for some of the best American cinema of the past two decades. But he has now gone a step beyond. Both stressful and electrifying, he has delivered his best film to date, an emotional and exhilarating achievement that showcases his ability as a storyteller and his dedication to championing the unseen.

Anora follows Ani, a strip club dancer whose life changes when she meets Vanya, leading to a whirlwind Las Vegas wedding. However, when Vanya’s parents learn of the marriage, they send his godfather Toros and henchmen Garnick and Igor to intervene. As Vanya disappears, a chaotic search ensues.

As with previous works, Baker delves into an authentic and distinctive character study. What starts as an over-the-top romp eventually morphs into one of the most thoughtful and emotional contenders for film of the year.