Anyone who decided to catch up withAnorabecause ofOscarbuzz might find themselves confused early on.
Why, a first-time viewer might reasonably wonder, do people considerthisone of the best movies of 2024?
The answer comes at the very bitter end.
After a frantic and exhausting 138 minutes,Anoraslows to an intimate close.
Director Sean Baker and cinematographer Drew Daniels shoot the dance as a full Hollywood spectacle.
A loud hip hop song fills the soundtrack, almost drowning out Vanyas approving commentary.
The camera moves up and down Madisons body, combining our gaze with Ivans.
Its big and its dreamy, and its all in Anis control.
This small moment captures the tone ofAnoras first act.
Its not just the obvious sexual desire represented by the dancers.
At best, Ani comes off as self-assured.
At worse, she is crass and belligerent.
But no matter what, Anora portrays Ani as unstoppable.
At least until the final 10 minutes.
In contrast to the loud, madcap pace of the movie so far, Ani awakens in silence.
The only noise comes from the snow falling outside.
The silence finally breaks when Igor drives Ani to her house and stops her before she leaves the car.
Igor holds out to her the wedding ring Vanya gave Ani.
Its also the ring Vanya took away.
Igor only says, Dont tell Toros.
The gesture leaves Ani speechless, a remarkable feat given her way with words.
Baker shoots the scenes in close-ups, framing the two actors faces inside the car doors windows.
The snow softens their features.
She kept that posture with all her interactions with Igor, despite the mans attempts to gently befriend her.
Ani understands the power of her sexual appeal, but shes out of her element here, literally.
When Igor tries to pull her in for a kiss, Ani resits, even slapping and punching him.
But then she collapses into his arms and he holds her as she sobs.
The movie cuts to black, leaving just the sound of the running engine as credits start to roll.
Shes someone whos genuinely scared and alone.
With that all stripped away as quickly as it arrived, Ani breaks.
Those last 10 minutes changeAnorafrom a loud fantasia and comic downfall into something truly tragic and heartbreaking and real.
Those last 10 minutes makeAnoraone of the best movies of the year.
