Let's Talk About Anora: The Perfect Tragicomedy

Рет қаралды 3,550

Күн бұрын

Пікірлер: 12

@Alyboba Ай бұрын

I don’t think Anora was in love with Ivan. I think she loved the idea that this is something that could happen for her. That a hot, rich guy would fall for her and change her life. Which is why she is as fighting so hard for Ivan because she was not about to let a life of luxury be snatched away from her. I love this movie a lot and I think it’s Sean Bakers best!

@JRok07 Ай бұрын

Agreed she loved the hope and idea of security it brings

@catd9988 Ай бұрын

ESSAY INCOMING (all my thoughts for Anora lovers) This movie shattered me...... and it has stayed on my mind. I did not have any expectations for where it would go, but right off the bat I felt deep care for Ani, and certainly had hopes for where the story would go. I agree that it did not seek to portray SW in any one light- it shows Ani as tired & hustling, independent, capable/skilled, searching, hard working, intelligent- and so much more. She is someone who needs to make a living- someone with bills, and someone with a skillset. She has agency and you can see it; you can also see the endless hustle she must endure to make ends meet. I like that we don't get too much (verbally) from Ani on this point , because as with most things, she probably has a lot of different thoughts and feelings towards it, some that may seem contradictory, all existing at one time. Ivan and Ani's relationship evolution is also one filled with overlapping and blurry truths, as you noted. Where does the SW end, and love begin? Or, do they both exist alongside one another? In the end, this is something only the two characters involved could answer. It was so interesting to observe particularly Ani throughout and try to pinpoint her feelings towards Ivan- how much she believed to be true about their relationship, or wished to be true, or maybe acted as if it were true. It was interesting to see the scenes of the maids and other service workers in the house juxtaposed by Ani sitting next to Ivan playing video games. All people who must provide varying degrees of service/labor to meet their basic needs. To my eye, Ani's life necessitated a certain tough exterior- physically, emotionally. She knew what a life married to Ivan could mean for her, hence the doubting his proposal and the repeated "don't be fucking with me"- don't toy with me over something that could so radically change my life. In the club, she mentions Cinderella's story- so apt. The rags to riches..... The move from tireless labor to being taken care of, getting to rest and feeling such security. And in the face of the henchmen, feeling the rug of their relationship (and her security) being ripped out from under her, she couldn't show weakness or worry. She had to fight- literally and with her words. In my theater, there were a lot of couples in their 30s-40s. During the "home invasion" sequence, when the henchmen hold Ani back from escaping, there was a lot of belly laughter. Of course there was comedy in the scene that we all felt, and I really don't blame people for laughing, but I couldn't help but notice a lot of the men were laughing the loudest (again, truly I don't judge that) whereas, to me (AFAB), it was hard to watch. It was funny, but also.... terrifying. She had no idea these men's intentions or what they'd be willing to do, and though she put up a good fight, IRL she had three large men holding her in that home against her will. That's terrifying. I also found the third act phenomenal. The total dissolution of the last of our faith in Ivan to... anything really. Stand up for the relationship, stand up for Ani from his parents' awful comments, grow in any capacity and realize the damage he caused. His lighthearted demeanor made us- and Ani- see the best in him, but he was too much the product of his environment. Our faith in him beforehand is our faith in the fairytale- us wanting so bad for things to work out, for the fantasy to extend- that love and enjoyment and peace and security could be theirs. I don't blame us for thinking this way- we want so badly to see something good happen, especially when we see bits of ourselves or loved ones in these characters. The 23 year old girl hustling who you just want good things for- rest and love and happiness. Just for SOMEONE to win, just once. That scene of her staring off into space in the mansion's shower after the annulment was devastating. Back to reality. That end will stay with me for a long time. Igor's kindness (another complicated, human character), Ani's struggle to accept the kindness, not quite knowing what to do, and knowing she will break if she lets the wall down and accepts a moment of mutual care. That look in her eyes. I cried and cried in the theater despite not feeling too in touch with my emotions as of late. I keep thinking of Ani, what her life looked like after that moment, how she is doing. I think characters that stick with us become real because, in a way, they are. There are many, many, Ani's out there, both past and present.

@antonspivack3928 Ай бұрын

I noticed that early on in the club, she leads a client to the ATM-she doesn't just pass him over but she does make sure she gets paid. It was such a heartbreaking ending, seeing her devastated and left dangling, yet finally free to let her guard down. I think she'll recover, she's a survivor, and live more authentically.

@Geo_Babe Ай бұрын

This was so well articulated. Thank you for sharing x

@YourName-p8q 16 күн бұрын

Amazing essay

@antonspivack3928 13 күн бұрын

I've been thinking about her too. Mutual care--I hadn't seen that term before about the situation. It's a very abrupt and ambiguous ending. As I see it, she puts on a double-sided front, as a seductress ready to show you a good time and as a tough girl who doesn't take nonsense. In the car, she keeps up both sides because after such a disappointment she wants to stay in control, first by trying to seduce Igor and then hitting him until he subdues her. All that's left is what Anora really is-a scared and lonely young woman struggling to get by. She's been disillusioned, but also ashamed for believing Ivan, and though she's taken a lot of flack for being a sex worker, she doesn't seem to identify as anything else. We don't see much of her inner life, or her beliefs, or her interests, because those aren't the focus. In another person's hand the story could have gone in that direction, possibly her moving on up on her own, but here it's about her self-acceptance and her inner conflict between self-protection and wanting to connect.

@Liv-hx9xx Ай бұрын

The ending was great, while at the time it felt a bit abrupt and I wasn’t sure how to feel about it, now I live it, it wicks with me so much and I can’t stop thinking about it