Culture chat: ‘Anora’, the unlikely film leading the Oscar race

Life and Art from FT Weekend

Forhecz Topher

Tv & Film, Arts, Society & Culture

4.6 • 601 Ratings

🗓️ 16 November 2024

⏱️ 30 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Today we’re talking about Anora, the new critical darling about the whirlwind romance between a Brooklyn sex worker and the hell-raising son of a Russian oligarch. The film follows the couple’s chaotic week together, their impulsive marriage, and what happens when the oligarchs hear the news and demand an annulment. It’s directed by Sean Baker, known for The Florida Project and Tangerine. It won the Cannes prestigious Palme d'Or award and is tipped as an Oscar winner. Who holds the power in the film? And why do people love it? FT film critic Danny Leigh and deputy news editor India Ross join Lilah to discuss.

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We love hearing from you. Lilah is on Instagram @lilahrap, and email at [email protected]. And we’re grateful for reviews on Apple and Spotify!

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Links (all FT links get you past the paywall):

– Danny Leigh’s interview with director Sean Baker is here: https://on.ft.com/3YJXqBF

– His five-star review of Anora is here: https://on.ft.com/40PEFzc

– Danny recommends Andrea Arnold’s Bird and the documentary Soundtrack to a Coup d'etat. India mentioned the film American Honey

– Here’s Lilah’s piece about the Met’s employee art show: https://on.ft.com/4ewTl9R

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FT subscribers can share your suggestions for Woman of the Year 2024 in the comments here, before November 25. Who has had a big year, in your industry and elsewhere? Who has earned accolades, accomplished remarkable things, made huge strides, produced important work or set records? Who has shaped this year?

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Clips copyright Neon and FilmNation Entertainment

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to Life and Art from FT Weekend. I'm Lila Raptopoulos and this is our Friday chat show.
0:07.4	Today we are talking about Anora, the new comedy drama from director Sean Baker, about a savvy Brooklyn stripper named Anora who meets a very rich young man at her Manhattan club one night.
0:18.9	When he asked her to be his escort for the week while he's visiting from Russia, she agrees.
0:23.3	And the whirlwind that ensues ends in a Vegas wedding.
0:26.4	There's a problem, though.
0:27.4	His parents are Russian oligarchs, will not accept this marriage and send their Armenian lackeys out to annul it.
0:36.0	I give it two weeks, bitch.
0:37.3	I'm just going to go chill in my mansion or whatever.
0:40.3	You do you?
0:42.3	You can't do a one, can't.
0:43.3	What?
0:45.3	This is not a real marriage.
0:47.3	We're getting in an old and you have no say in it.
0:56.5	Aura has received glowing reviews from critics.
0:59.6	It received the Palm D'Or at Cannes Film Festival and is being tipped as a front
1:03.9	runner for the Oscars.
1:05.3	And because it's not the usual type of film to do that, today we're going to talk about
1:09.0	it.
1:09.3	I'm Lila in New York, and I'm a weary Armenian henchmen scared of my Russian boss. Joining me from London, we've been driving around Coney Island and smashing up candy shops looking for him. It's the FTs film critic and a very special guest, Danny Lee. Hi, Danny. Welcome. Hello, Lila. I wish my Russian was better. I feel like I'm letting the side down now.
1:27.6	It's good.
1:28.1	It's good.
1:29.0	Also in London, they're on a private jet from Russia to squash your marriage. And yes, their suit is from the new collection. It's the FT's deputy news editor and friend of the show, India Ross. Welcome, India. Hello. Thank you both for being here. Why don't we start with just what we thought of the film Top Line?
	...

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