Anora is Mark Eydelshteyn’s first Hollywood film and it’s quite the introductory piece. Directed by Sean Baker and also starring Mikey Madison, the acclaimed film follows sex worker Ani (Madison) who falls in with Ivan (Eydelshteyn), the son of Russian oligarchs. When the pair get married, things spiral out of control as Ivan’s parents set out to annul the marriage.
Until now, Eydelshteyn has starred in Russian films like The Land of Sasha and One Hundred Years Ahead, but Baker’s discovery of the actor is sure to put him in conversation for more major Hollywood roles. As for his turn in Anora, Ivan is exuberantly youthful, but hiding behind that is a sadness and fear of losing that, knowing that a return to Russia means growing up.
Screen Rant sat down with Eydelshteyn to talk about the film, including Ivan’s complex feelings for Ani, working with Madison and Baker, and the film’s success so far, which includes its Palme d’Or win at the Cannes Film Festival, a runner-up position for the Toronto International Film Festival’s People’s Choice Award, and critical acclaim.
Mark Eydelshteyn Dives Deep Into Anora
How Ivan Really Feels About Ani, Working With Sean Baker & More
Ani and Ivan’s relationship is initially transactional, but once they get married, the line between cold, hard cash and romance begins to blur. Ani and Ivan begin to believe in the fantasy they’ve built and Eydelshteyn explains how this is a pivotal moment for the young man. “It’s his first love and maybe [his] last one, because in this adventure he…loses that [love],” he says.
Despite this love, though, his parents are less than enthusiastic about Ivan’s marriage to Ani. They see it for what it might truly be: a child lashing out at his restrictive parents. “After [they] land in America, they’re trying to speak with him, [and] he’s just growing up immediately.” Their response is a sobering moment for Ivan. “He’s just growing up immediately,” he says, continuing, “You’re already not a kid, and you already lost your love, and what will you do next? It’s a big question.”
We thought about how…to give Anora more and more love and how to make her happy.
It’s a tumultuous emotional journey for both Ani and Ivan, but before reality hits, the pair get to have a lot of fun. From raucous, cocaine-fueled house parties to jaunts to Las Vegas on private jets, Ivan pulls out all the stops for Ani and his friends. “[He’s] about fun, especially [in the] first part of [the] movie,” the actor says before emphasizing that Ivan’s focus is on Ani after all.
“His one goal [is] to make Anora happy really, because he wanted her to be with him. It’s a very exact goal and a very exact task.” When it came to forming a relationship with Madison to ensure their onscreen chemistry was authentic, Eydelshteyn says it came easily. “It just started happening.”
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Where To Watch Anora: Showtimes & Streaming Status
There are different options for where to watch Anora, as its exclusive theatrical release and future streaming debut make it accessible to viewers.
“We had this atmosphere on set, and our maestro, Sean Baker. Before takes and before scenes, he said some words and gave us advice, and then we started to live in the scene, improvise there.” Baker’s films are known for their controlled chaos and Anora is no different. However, that on-screen chaos doesn’t result in the same behind-the-scenes.
“I really loved every day on Sean Baker’s set. Every day is an amazing adventure and very interesting work.” That work has translated to critical acclaim and a whirlwind press tour that seems like it could eventually culminate in awards season glory come 2025. The response to the film has been rapturous, and it’s something that Eydelshteyn says makes him feel “very warm.”
He continues, “That more and more people every day [are] watching Anora, and they are smiling, and they are crying, and they’re feeling emotions, real emotions. It’s a big pleasure.” It seems as Anora‘s rollout continues, it will only reach more people in this way.
More About Anora
Anora, a young sex worker from Brooklyn, gets her chance at a Cinderella story when she meets and impulsively marries the son of an oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairytale is threatened as the parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled.
Anora
is now playing in select theaters.