"The line hits me like a gut punch as the first act of director Sean Baker's new movie Anora unfolds. This line purred, albeit reluctantly, by the titular protagonist, Anora, a Russian-speaking, Uzbek-American sex worker... highlights a complex narrative that intertwines power dynamics, cultural identity, and personal agency as Ani navigates her tumultuous relationship with Ivan, ultimately exposing the entwined lives of the Russian diaspora in New York City."
"Filmed in the winter, so much of Anora is a joyride around different nooks and crannies of Brighton Beach, the Russophone neighborhood in south Brooklyn, NY, that shaped the protagonist's identity. Baker captures the vibrancy of this area while exploring the harsh realities faced by those living in the shadows, such as sex workers and those caught in precarious relationships, thus compelling viewers to engage with the more challenging aspects of love and survival in a complex world."
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