Anora tells you exactly what sort of movie you’re getting into right from the start. We meet Anora—who prefers to be called Ani—giving lap dances to various patrons at the strip club where she works. Ani is played by Mikey Madison, who is all sexiness and confidence with Brooklyn-girl flair. he’s her own Prince Charming, carving out her own life without waiting for anyone to rescue her. And isn’t that exactly when someone unexpected always shows up? Vanya (Mark Eydelshteyn) arrives, the son of a Russian oligarch in search of a Russian dancer who can understand him. Cue Ani’s entrance.

Despite Vanya’s frequent aloofness and comedic misunderstandings with English, he and Ani hit it off. Thus begins their “love story”—or rather, a story full of sex, laughs, and transactional encounters. Ani is a male fantasy come to life, while Vanya is her ATM. He whisks her off to his Brooklyn mansion for New Year’s, where he introduces her to a world of luxury: no chores, staff at her beck and call, endless video games, and drugs. Ani is all about her hustle, and after a few lucrative encounters, the two head to Vegas, where Vanya pops the question and Ani says yes.

Vanya showers her with a three-carat diamond, Versace robes, and the promise of a new life. She leaves her job but the fairy tale doesn’t last long when Vanya’s family catches wind of the marriage and insists on an annulment. This is where the real fun begins. Enter Toros (Karren Karagulian), the family priest and fixer, along with his two helpers, Igor (Yura Borisov) and Garnick (Vache Tovmasyan). Their mission? To pick up Vanya and Ani, drag them to the courthouse and get the marriage voided. The twist? Vanya flakes, leaving Ani to hold down the fort with Igor and Garnick.

The director Sean Baker beautifully builds a surprising connection between Ani and Igor, and although she doesn’t realise it, the audience begins to see her through Igor’s eyes. By the film’s end, we sense how earth-shattering her relationships have been for her, Igor included.

Mikey Madison is stunning as Ani and is sure to be a strong contender come awards season. It’s easy to play a sex worker as a one-dimensional character, but Madison brings depth and range, evoking both laughter and sympathy as Ani’s princess dreams begin to crumble. The supporting cast, particularly Borisov, adds layers to the film; his few lines often speak volumes through his expressions alone.

Ultimately, Anora is a dark comedy that makes you laugh while holding up a mirror to society’s treatment of sex workers, especially in the hands of the world’s wealthiest. As a viewer, you can’t help but want to warn Ani: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Pros: Funny, well paced, stellar Cast, plot twists

Cons: Some scenes drag on for too long