I am a huge fan of Sean Baker and loved his other movie, the Florida Project. From watching his movies, I know that he is going to depict the real-life horrors of women, living in the underbellies of American society. Sure, there were other great artists like Janica Bravo, who directed one of my all-time favorite stripper movies, Zola. But she did take on a more comical approach on a topic that needed more of a critical discourse. Yes, my friends, I am talking about sex work.  Sure, the jokes landed as Stephani, played by Riley Kough spiraled from occasional pole dancer to pole licker.  Okay, you know that I got to keep this video clean for the algorithm. Yet, Sean Baker’s Anora stumbles down a similar path, when she falls for Ivan, also known as Vanya. He is a super-rich Russan man boy, who plays people like their toys, knowing that his henchman Toro, Garnick, and Igor are going to be left cleaning up his mess. But unlike Zola, Anora isn’t funny. In fact, it’s heartbreaking. Her fantasy of being a sugar baby, slowly turns into a nightmare. While Zola is seduced into a life-style that she can’t escape from. Anora tries to desperately hold on to an illusion that ultimately ends in heart break. So, if you loved the movie Anora, or just like stripper movies in general, you’re going to want to watch is video.

  Anora Cinderella Story Explained 

People think that Anora is just another Cinderella story, but that would be far from the truth. Cinderella was a master manifester. And I am not talking about fairy dust. I am talking about the magic of self-reflection and transformation.  You see, a lot of people misinterpret Cinderella and think that she was waiting for a man to save her. In truth, she was just trying to get out of a terrible situation. Her sisters were vengeful and jealous and her stepmother, why, she was wicked. Cinderella, like any manifesting witch, didn’t break under the pressure. Instead, she rose above it, retreating into her inner worlds and creating a fantasy that brought her peace and joy.  Through her suffering, Cinderella learned about the power of manifesting and how she could change her life, through visualizations and positive thinking. By the time she got to the ball, she shined brighter than any other woman. It wasn’t because she was the most beautiful, it was because she was the most refined. Like a real diamond, she never broke under the pressure, and she always stayed true to who she truly was. Cinderella, unlike Anora, never allowed others to define her. Although she was the underdog, she refused to be a character in someone else’s play. She took control of her life, changed the narrative, and thus snagged the winning prize, the royal prince.

Anora Cinderella Story Summary 

But sadly, many people think that Cinderella got lucky, or that fate was on her side. Like Anora, they believe that if they hold onto the illusion for just a little while longer, their prince will save them. When in truth, it was Cinderella who saved herself. The Cinderella fairytale is the primary reason why falling in love is synomous with illusions. And why people tend to invest more into the illusion than in the actual relationship. Anora had mastered the illusion. It was her job to provide the fantasy. And yes, she had to play roles and wear a mask to get her money. However, in her world, she was the boss. She was in control. She knew that she was hustling to make that money, and Ivan was just another John to get played. But as the story unravels, we see Ani, leaving her world, and entering his. It all starts with expensive private dances, invites to an exclusive New Years Eve parties, and propositions to be his girlfriend for the week. She is swept away by the life-style as he Ivan and his friends fly to Vegas, party into the wee hours of the night, and eat at the most amazing restaurants. But this is not Ani’s world, its Ivan’s. 

Anora Movie Interpretation and Analysis 

We see a similar story line in Zola, where Stephani tricks Zola into going to Tamba for the night. Zola should have run for the hills, when Stephani, along with her pimp rolls into her drive way. But the allure of fast and easy money causes her to get into that car, surrendering her power, and entering the world of sex work. Sadly, poor people are fascinated with the rich. They can’t believe that they can buy whatever they want, without having to work fifty hours plus for it. Furthermore, working at a soul sucking job takes a toll on people, both mentally and physically.  Look at Ani, she lives in a shared apartment in NYC  on the metro line. She works in a night club with no health benefits or real career advancement.  Ani, much like Stephani and Zola is eking out a living, and working hard for that almighty dollar. So, when Ivan flashes all that green, he tempts Ani in ways she simply can’t resist. He proposes, slides a huge diamond ring on her finger and she is over the moon. She did it, she hit the jackpot and never had to worry about hustling ever again. That is until Garnick and Igor ring the door, demanding to see their marriage certificate.  

Anora movie themes and thoughts 

Zola believes that she can make 5k, plus per night, just dancing. However, when Stephani reveals the real reason why they are in Tamba, Zola doesn’t take her money and run. Instead, she takes on the role as Madame, watching over her as she completes her transactions.  Regular people who don’t understand the industry would wonder how such beautiful woman can get caught up in terrible situations. The answer to that question is easy, it’s fast money. But it is also the fact that these women lose themselves in the fantasy. Stephani was willing to do everything and anything, simply because she was no longer in charge of her life.  Any type of doubt that she had was overwritten by fear. The fear of being harmed, the fear of being embarrassed, the fear of going broke. The fear of feeling shame. Many working class people fail to understand that fear, in itself is an illusion. And when you succumb to it, you are allowing the rich and powerful, to re-write your narrative. You become a character in their play. At least this was the case for Toro and Garnik. Once, Ivan is confronted about his marriage to Ani, he runs off, completely abandoning her. Igor and Gavino apprehend Ani, but get mangled and beat up in the process. They then chase Ivan all around town like he is some kind of toddler, not because they are concerned about him, but because they are afraid of losing their jobs, their statues, their only means of making money.  

Anora movie and what it was all about 

Stephani and Zola are constantly putting themselves in danger, coming face to face with hardened criminals. But Stephani is completely lost. She had turned into a marionette doll and her pimp was pulling her strings. Zola is fighting hard not to follow in her footsteps, but you can see the pain and turmoil all over her face. Anora is also working hard to stay in control. Yet, Tora and his henchman are hellbent on breaking her. In short, they want her to be a character in their play. The continually devalue her, by calling her names, insulting her intelligence, and treating her like a doormat. Yet, Ani is still holding on to the fantasy that Ivan will save her, if only she could talk to him. Zola is holding on to her own fantasy, asking for permission to leave, knowing damn well that she had proven herself to be too valuable to be let go. Worse, both Ani and Zola ignored the red flags. Ivan running off would have been a deal breaker for most women. But, as she scours the town, questioning his friends, she sees how Ivan had indirectly burned them too. Igor smashes up the candy shop that his friends worked at. Toro stormed into Erik’s job, risking him getting fired. And Ivan stiffs a waitress for a whopping 800 dollars. The irony is that Ivan acts very much like a pimp, he uses the people around him for pleasure, only to dispose of them once they are no longer needed. He has no regard for their feelings or for their livelihood, or for their means of making money. Ivan isn’t just a man boy; he is a sociopath.  

Anora movie hidden meaning 

He isn’t the only one who has a few screws loose. Stephani’s boyfriend Derrick follows her around like a puppy dog. Like her, he got sucked into the fantasy. Even when confronted with glaring evidence that she had been unfaithful, Derrick sticks around, hellbent on saving her from her unholy life-style. Only problem is, Stephani doesn’t want to be saved. She is in too deep and doesn’t have the will or the strength to take control of her fate. Ani, doesn’t seemed to have much of a choice. After being berated by Toro, she then gets her ass handed to her by Ivan’s mother, Galina. Now, Galina is the real wicked step mother. She is cold blooded, tearing down all Ani’s dreams of love and happily ever after, and putting her in her place.  Sadly, Ani gets her final wake-up call, when she hears Ivan, her knight and shining armor, call her an escort, aka, a whore. And that my friends was the straw that broke the camel’s back.  Ani was officially broken. It was at the moment that Ani saw herself from the lens of Galina, Garnik, Toro, and even Ivan. She saw herself as a whore. She had surrendered her power, allowing them to write the narrative, and she was simply a character in their play. Worse, the oligarchs ripped her masked off, leaving her ailing from the pain of heartbreak and shame.  

Anora ending explained with Igor 

But contrary to popular opinion, Anora did have a happy ending. Igor was her knight in shining armor. He was the one who stayed by her side and never judged her for her profession. Instead, he demanded that she get treated with some level of respect and pulled a fast one on Toro and Ivan when they refused to give to her. He gave her engagement ring back, and thus, he gave her back her self-respect and her pride. Anora finally feels like she was in a safe place to be vulnerable, as Igor holds her, giving her the warmth and love that she so desperately needed.     

So what do you think Anora was about? Please sound off in the comments below.