Independent Film ‘Anora’ Sweeps The Oscars with Five Academy Awards
The Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars were held on Sunday, Mar. 2. Similar to prior years, one standout film swept the majority of categories. Last year, ‘Oppenheimer’ swept the Oscars with seven winning categories, and now this year the independent film, ‘Anora,’ directed by Sean Baker, cleared five out of six of its nominations with winning awards. ‘Anora’ won Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Film Editing, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. The film, a twisted version of a Cinderella story, follows a sex worker, Ani Mikheeva, played by Mikey Madison, who meets a young and wealthy Russian boy, Ivan “Vanya” Zakharov, played by Mark Eydelshteyn. With the meeting of Ani and Vanya also comes the increased intensity of Ani’s life. The film demonstrates how careless and out of touch wealthy people can be, as well as the class difference between the couple. The film deserved each and every award that it received, as it’s so important that independent films are finally being recognized at large-scale award ceremonies.
Baker’s win for “Best Director” sprouted from his producing, editing, writing, and directing of the film. Baker’s acceptance speech when receiving the award was extremely heartfelt and included his, “battle cry,” for the Oscars to continue nominating and giving awards to independent films. “Watching a film in the theater with an audience is an experience; we can laugh together, cry together, scream and fright together, and sit in devastated silence together. And in a time in which the world can feel very divided, this is more important than ever,” said Baker. Baker taking his time up on stage to recognize and call out for going out and supporting local movie theaters, and continuing to educate ourselves on film showed how truly devoted to this craft he is. Every moment Baker was on stage was a moment of appreciation for the arts and for the world of film.
Madison received her award for “Best Actress,” up against famous actresses Demi Moore, Cynthia Erivo, Fernanda Torres, and Karla Sofía Gascón, Madison was expected to come out as the underdog, but instead her acting within ‘Anora’ shined through. Madison’s award was extremely deserving, with watching her on screen you could feel each and every one of her acting choices making the film all that better. To get into character, Madison visited various strip clubs to learn what it’s like to be a sex worker, as well as taking up Russian as a language to sound more authentic. Madison’s vulnerability in her role and her utter rawness in playing Ani was apparent in each scene she was in. Each moment Madison was on screen she embodied the character of Ani so well that you forgot she was even acting.
With the film having very few camera cuts in the more intense scenes made you feel like you were right there while it was happening. The film came from such an extracted and outsider point of view that you saw every character for who they were. Whether it be Vanya's controlling Russian family swooping in to save him from all the trouble she got himself into, or Ani’s constant yelling and cold demeanor, it was obvious they all put their hearts and souls into the scenes. Though it can come off as controversial for a film to sweep the Oscars each year, ‘Anora’ happens to be a film that winning could mean everything for the film industry, as well as the future generation of filmmakers to come. “To all of the dreamers and the young filmmakers out there: tell the stories you want to tell, tell the stories that move you. I promise you you will never regret it,” said Baker.
