Every time Sean Baker makes a movie, it feels like an event. His 2017 film The Florida Project landed on numerous top 10 lists and earned Willem Dafoe an Oscar nomination. This year’s Anora is no different. Once again, it’s a critical darling with a whopping six Oscar nominations to boot. Not bad for an indie writer/director who makes movies about the marginalized.
Anora tells the story of a sex worker who meets a client that changes her life forever. The client is Vanya, the son of Russian oligarchs with an unlimited bank account who’s always on the hunt for the next high. Vanya hires Ani (Anora for short) to be his girlfriend for a week. On a whim, he asks her to marry him. But once Vanya’s parents find out about the marriage, all hell breaks loose. Baker has once again crafted a powerful story with a wide emotional range that places a spotlight on the margins of society.
Join Jon and Tim as they discuss the fires in California, Tim’s Moana 2 review, Dan Baker’s upcoming duel, the shorter streaming window, Mark Hamill’s fame, how to pronounce Ralph Fiennes part 2, Mikey Madison’s standout performance, who the real prostitute is in the movie, Sean Baker’s heart for the marginalized, sex workers in Scripture, the lure of money and power, finding grace in unlikely places, and what it means to love our neighbor.
