Anora (4K): Criterion Collection Review

Anora, Spine #1259, will release in the Criterion Collection on April 29th, 2025.

Mikey Madison is a star, delivering a mesmerizing performance in the titular role of Sean Baker’s Oscar winning film. The role of Ani is a complicated and layered one that allows Madison to showcase the full extent of her acting abilities. Sean Baker — acting as the director, writer and editor — delivers his most compelling and finely crafted film to date. Anora is — in my opinion — the best film of 2024, and it is an absolute gift to have this gorgeous new edition join the Criterion Collection.

Anora plot

Anora (Mikey Madison) — or “Ani” as she likes to be called — is an exotic dancer and sex worker. She spends her nights buttering up clients and enticing them to spend their cash on her in the club’s VIP section. One of those clients winds up being Ivan, a wealthy young Russian man who takes a liking to the beautiful dancer. When Ivan offers her more money to continue their relationship outside of the club, Ani is swept into a world of wealth, excess, lust and love that. But what starts as a dream soon becomes a nightmare as Ivan’s powerful family is not willing to accept their relationship.

The review

April is a great month for fans of Sean Baker. The independent filmmaker has two films joining the collection, both dropping on April 29th. I’d never seen Prince of Broadway until I covered its Criterion Collection release (you can read my review of that here), but I’d seen Anora twice before. With each rewatch I find a deeper appreciation for the world that Baker has constructed.

With Anora, Baker crafts a story with further reach than he’s attempted in previous films. Movies like The Florida Project and Prince of Broadway are secluded to singular locations, exploring how individuals survive — and even thrive — within the confines of their limited existence. Anora begins within this same vein as we watch Ani’s nightly routine working at a high-end strip club. Her Brooklyn accent is thick, signaling that she’s likely spent her entire life here; however, those barriers are broken once Ivan enters her life, opening her eyes to a world with endless possibilities.

Cinematographer Drew Daniels (Red Rocket) perfectly captures the world through the lens of a 1970’s crime thriller. Films like The French Connection act as clear and direct inspiration for the second half of the story. The film unfolds in two distinct halves. Once Toros — played by Karren Karagulian in his best performance yet — arrives on screen, Anora’s picture-perfect Cinderella story comes crashing down. Although it’s never specifically explained what Ivan’s family does for a living, they come with a level of threatening menace that only wealth and power can buy.

It’s in these later moments that we can see Ani’s true emotional attachment to Ivan and begin to understand her as a person. Despite only knowing him for a short time, and the abundance of irredeemable flaws in his character, Ani wants to be with him. The easy explanation for this would be the access to endless wealth, but the truth is something deeper. Ani longs for true human connection. She loves Ivan because he seemingly loves her back and the safety and security that comes with being with Ivan is something she’s never experienced. All of this makes the film’s final moments all the more heartbreaking and effective.

The special features

The new release features a 4K digital master, supervised by director Sean Baker and producer Alex Coco, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. Also included are two essays, one by film critic Dennis Lim and the other by author Kier-La Janisse. Along with the 4K disc are two blu-ray discs with the below listed special features.

Would I recommend this purchase? Yes. This is my favorite film of 2024 and this is a spectacular release.

Is it worth a blind buy? Yes, despite its more erotic elements, this is arguably the most accessible film from Sean Baker to date.

Purchase your copy of Anora from the Criterion Collection here.

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