Anora, Sean Baker’s screwball dramedy that tells the story of a whirlwind union that occurred between a mischievous male child of a Russian oligarch and a resourceful sex worker on Sunday night, emerged as the Best Picture award at the Oscars.
Anora was everywhere during the award ceremony, with Baker also going home with Best Original Screenplay, Best Editing, and Best Director.
The win for Anora did not come as a surprise but rather as a well-anticipated one, given the movie’s strong awards season streak. It first came live last year in May at the Cannes Film Festival, where it emerged as the winner of the prestigious Palme d’Or and the Producers Guild of America’s top feature film award, a strong predictor of an Oscar success.
Baker, who is popular for his storytelling about marginalized characters in movies such as The Florida Project and Tangerine, has now moved from being just a critic’s favorite to mainstream recognition, bolstered by strong word-of-mouth and an excellent display from Mikey Madison, who has also won an Oscar.
“I want to thank the Academy for recognizing a truly independent film,” Baker said during his final acceptance speech of the night. “This film was made on the blood, sweat, and tears of incredible indie artists, and—um—long live independent film!”
