Anora: Ani, are you OK?

OK. The moment you’ve all been waiting for.

Anora does a great job of insisting you’re not watching what you think you’re watching. Aside from the impeccably kind and respectful handling of sex workers, you are going to be told, nay, rallied into ignoring your first instincts. Which I think is the whole point.

Most of its runtime is romance, comedy and chaos. Where we end up is not jarring but it is painful.

The final scene left everyone very somber and averse to applause, though many (men) absolutely raved about the film in the lobby, without much articulation as to why they loved it.

I think this is a film about hoping, despite yourself. I needed a little of that in that theatre that morning.

Is it the film of the year everyone’s been talking about? I think if you’re an Uncut Gems fan, then for sure. The lead turn by Mickey Madison was absolutely flawless. It’s a film I like - it’s not a film I love. I don’t feel attached to it like I do to ‘The Florida Project’.

Visually though it will definitely be on a lot of mood boards and pitch decks, and inspire much less talented men to do a much worse job of portraying sex workers for their assorted low-budget projects.

I think this may also be a girly-pop film, much like ‘The Substance’ that inspires an entire lifestyle, subniche fandom of Ani’s across the world - the visuals were that affecting. I look forward to everyone’s next movie too, and look forward to the inevitable Oscar run the entire crew deserve.