ADDITION: Criterion 4K UHD (April 2025): Criterion have transferred Sean Baker's Anora to 4K UHD. It is a "New 4K digital master, supervised by director Sean Baker and producer Alex Coco". This package comes with one 4K UHD disc of the film presented in HDR and two Blu-rays with the film (1080P) and special features.

It is likely that the monitor you are seeing this review is not an HDR-compatible display (High Dynamic Range) or Dolby Vision, where each pixel can be assigned with a wider and notably granular range of color and light. Our capture software if simulating the HDR (in a uniform manner) for standard monitors. This should make it easier for us to review more 4K UHD titles in the future and give you a decent idea of its attributes on your system. So our captures may not support the exact same colors (coolness of skin tones, brighter or darker hues etc.) as the 4K system at your home. But the framing, detail, grain texture support etc. are, generally, not effected by this simulation representation.

The HDR implementation deepens the contrast in key scenes, such as the harsh fluorescents of the Tatiana Grill sequence or the dim, melancholic lighting of the final act, while preserving the film’s grain structure to maintain its cinematic texture (shot on 35mm.) The first act uses a glossy, music-video-like style to capture Ani and Vanya’s whirlwind romance - bright lights, fast cuts, and handheld camera work immerse viewers in their hedonistic bubble, from the neon glow of the strip club to the opulence of Vanya’s Brighton Beach mansion. Baker often shoots from Ani’s perspective, as noted in his own commentary, using long takes to introduce the audience to Vanya’s world through her eyes, such as the unbroken shot of her entering his mansion, marveling at its excess. The second act shifts into a frenetic farce, with chaotic handheld camerawork and quick cuts amplifying the tension as Ani, Toros, and the henchmen chase Vanya through New York. The 2.39:1 aspect ratio provides a wide canvas for both the chaotic ensemble scenes and the intimate close-ups, balancing the film’s screwball energy with its neorealist heart. As one might anticipate for the Blu-ray and 4K UHD transfers of a modern film (1080P with max'ed out bitrate and 2160P with over 2.5 that bitrate) - the image is flawless effectively exporting Baker’s guerrilla-style shooting style. Inconsistencies in lighting or focus seem an intended part of the production. The 4K UHD is a shade darker with richer black levels but both HD presentations are rewarding - offering the definitive home theater experience.

NOTE: We have added 30 more large resolution 4K UHD captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their 4K UHD and Blu-ray, Criterion use a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround track (24-bit) in the original English, Russian and Armenian languages. Anora has some impacting tonal shifts. Dialogue drives much of the film, with overlapping, overstimulating exchanges reminiscent of Uncut Gems, particularly in the chaotic second act where characters scream and argue over each other. Music plays a dual role, reflecting the film’s tonal evolution. The first act features upbeat pop tracks like "Greatest Day" (Robin Schulz Rework by Take That), underscoring the fantasy of Ani and Vanya’s romance, while the second act leans on diegetic sounds - car horns, shouting, club beats - to heighten the chaos. Anora is filled with music by artists like Dunni, Mz Burn, 7resh, Aicha Fall, Danny G, Tyler Royale, Mpax, Brit Fox, 144troy, Roman Molino Dunn (as Electropoint) and plenty of other musicians that I've never heard of - although it suits the film wonderfully. The surround exports some notable separations which shine in the chaotic second act, where directional audio - car horns, shouting, and the thumping bass of club music - places viewers in the middle of New York’s frenetic energy. The audio transfer is as precise as the video supporting the film experience brilliantly. Criterion offer optional English subtitles (choice of 'full' or only non-English dialogue) on their Region FREE 4K UHD and region 'A' or 'B' (depending which country purchased) feature Blu-ray.

The Criterion 4K UHD package offers two new commentaries. The first featuring Baker, Coco, producer Samantha Quan, and cinematographer Drew Daniels, offers a technical and creative perspective, delving into the film’s production challenges, such as shooting on 35mm in real locations like Tatiana Grill, and Baker’s improvisational approach. Daniels discusses the cinematography’s evolution - from the glossy first act to the chaotic second act - while Quan and Coco could provide insights into the logistics of a $6 million indie production that grossed $56.6 million. The second commentary, with Baker and actors Yura Borisov, Mark Eydelshteyn, Karren Karagulian, Mikey Madison, and Vache Tovmasyan, focuses on performance, offering a lively, actor-driven discussion. Madison reflect son her star-making role, while Borisov could share his experience as the first Russian Oscar nominee in nearly 50 years. It's very fun with plenty of shared memories. These commentaries provide a comprehensive look at the film from both sides of the camera, with the ensemble track being more anecdotal than analytical lacking the depth of the technical commentary. All the rest of the supplements are on the second Blu-ray disc. Beyond the edifying commentaries, the hour-plus making-of documentary is the centerpiece, offering a thorough exploration of the film’s production, from guerrilla shooting to Cannes success, likely addressing the portrayal of sex work and Baker’s thematic goals. Sean Baker Envisioning Anora is a 10-minute primer on Baker’s vision, useful for new viewers but potentially redundant for those familiar with his interviews, given its short runtime. The dozen-minute interview with Baker and Madison provide focused insights. The 40+-minute Cannes press conference is a historical marker, capturing the film’s initial reception, and the 35-minute Q&A with Madison and actor-stripper Lindsey is another highlight, offering a deep dive into the realities of sex work and addressing criticisms of Ani’s character, making it a crucial addition for understanding the film’s social commentary. The 'deleted scenes' are more phone-shot segments shot by the cast and offer a brief but welcome inclusion and the 1/4 hour of audition footage of Darya Ekamasova ("Galina"), Vlad Mamai ("Aleks"), Luna Sofia Miranda ("Lulu"), Lindsey Normington ("Diamond"), Vincent Radwinsky ("Jimmy"), Vache Tovmasyan ("Garnick"), and Ivy Wolk ("Crystal".) It is a fascinating look at the casting process, showcasing the actors’ raw talent, although is a fragmented presentation (seven clips) with a lack of context. There are two trailers and the package has a liner notes booklet with essays by Dennis Lim (The Village Voice Film Guide: 50 Years of Movies from Classics to Cult Hits) and author Kier-La Janisse (House of Psychotic Women: Expanded Edition: An Autobiographical Topography of Female Neurosis in Horror and Exploitation Films) that add scholarly depth, providing cultural and thematic analysis that elevates the release for scholars and cinephiles.

Sean Baker's Anora unfolds as a three-act narrative that shifts dramatically in tone, blending romantic comedy, screwball farce, and poignant drama over its 2 1/4 hour runtime. Anora explores a constellation of themes, with class disparity, the transactional nature of relationships, and the destigmatization of sex work at its core. The film is a modern anti-Cinderella story, critiquing the American Dream through Ani’s journey - a working-class sex worker who briefly glimpses a life of wealth, only to be reminded of her disposability in the eyes of the elite. Baker, known for his focus on marginalized communities, examines how capitalism makes financial security and self-expression mutually exclusive, as Ani’s marriage to Vanya is both a romantic fantasy and a pragmatic escape from her precarious existence (no health insurance, workers’ comp, or 401K, as she pointedly tells her boss.) The transactional nature of all relationships is a recurring motif - Vanya buys Ani’s affection, his parents buy her compliance with $10,000, and even her bond with Igor is shaped by their shared status as "workers" exploited by the wealthy. This class solidarity, subtly forged between Ani and the henchmen, underscores Baker’s humanist lens, showing how those on the margins find fleeting moments of connection despite their disposability to the powerful. The film also challenges societal perceptions of sex work, a recurring theme in Baker’s oeuvre (Tangerine, Red Rocket). The characters in Anora are vividly drawn, their interactions driving the film’s emotional and thematic depth. Ani, played by Mikey Madison in a career-defining performance, is the heart of the film - a tough, foulmouthed Brooklynite with a fighting spirit, yet deeply vulnerable beneath her bravado. Madison’s portrayal balances brashness with fragility, as seen in moments where Ani demands a moment to breathe or cries alone in a bathroom, revealing the toll of her constant hustle. DVDBeaver LOVE Sean Baker's work (The Florida Project, Starlet, Prince of Broadway, unforgettable Tangerine) and Anora marks a high point in his career, cementing his status as a leading humanist filmmaker and chronicler of America’s marginalized. This is his most lauded effort (Palme d'Or and five Oscars including Best Picture) - and highest-grossing film, a testament to its broad appeal despite its Indie roots and provocative subject matter. Anora is a tour de force of emotional and stylistic range, weaving comedy, chaos, and tragedy into a fractured fairy tale that both exhilarates and devastates. The Criterion 4K UHD package with over 3 1/2 hours of video supplements (plus the two commentaries) makes this one of their most robust packages for a contemporary film. It is easily the definitive physical media unit, offering a stunning audiovisual presentation and a wealth of special features that honor the film’s critical and cultural significance. It absolutely has our highest recommendation.

Gary Tooze