Anora director Sean Baker has revealed that his mother disapproved of the script and tried to sway him away from making the film.
The movie, which has already won the coveted Palme d’Or and the New York Film Critics Circle’s Best Screenplay award, tells the story of an erotic dancer (Mikey Madison) who marries a Russian billionaire (Mark Eydelshteyn), only for her dream life to be threatened by her disapproving in-laws. Yura Borisov, Vache Tovmasyan, and Karren Karagulian star as the fixers who attempt to get the marriage annulled.
Speaking at the 2025 NYFCC ceremony (via IndieWire), Baker said that his mom disapproved of him writing a film from the perspective of an erotic dancer. The writer/director has previously focused on telling stories of sex workers, with films such as Red Rocket and Tangerine.
After winning the Best Screenplay award at the NYFCC, Baker said: “My mother wouldn’t agree with your choice. I don’t think she even made it through Red Rocket. And then, after she saw, I guess half of it, she asked me what was next. I pitched Anora to her over the phone, and she literally said — I’m quoting — ‘Sean, people don’t want to see that.’”
“In all honesty, this award does make things easier,” Baker said. “As a filmmaker, it’s validating and most importantly, it is encouraging.
“I’m encouraged to continue to write and make these films that will eventually receive scathing and demoralising reviews from the one and only Richard Brody [from The New Yorker]. But rest assured, my mom will read your reviews.”
Anora is hotly tipped to receive an Oscar at this year’s ceremony, despite leaving the 2025 Golden Globes empty-handed.
Instead, it was The Brutalist and Emilia Pérez that won big on the night at the Globes, while The Substance star Demi Moore pipped Anora‘s Mikey Madison to the Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical award.