Sean Baker’s Anora tells the intriguing story of a Sєx worker named Ani who quickly agrees to marry the son of a Russian oligarch — a narrative that raises questions about whether it’s inspired by real life. Anora‘s cast is led by Mikey Madison, who delivers a stunning performance as Ani. After Ani agrees to marry young, reckless Vanya in Las Vegas, his wealthy family immediately shows up to cause problems for the New Yorker, and by Anora‘s somber ending, Madison’s character is left questioning her decisions and the way the experience has made her feel.

Thanks to the movie’s impressive performances and great writing, Anora has received great reviews. Audiences have praised the movie’s quick pacing and funny scenes, with Madison’s performance in particular putting her in contention for the Best Actress Oscar. Likewise, Anora has won numerous awards this season and has several opportunities to win at the upcoming Oscars. Given how interesting the story and characters are, audiences may be left wondering how exactly Sean Baker came up with the story for his most recent film.

Anora Is Not Based On A Specific True Story

The Characters Have No Real Counterparts

Despite how real the performances in the film can make the characters feel at times, there are no real-life counterparts to any of Anora‘s characters. Instead, the film came about through research conducted by writer and director Sean Baker. In the past, Baker has made other films that centered on the stories of Sєx workers and marginalized individuals, such as Tangerine or The Florida Project, so it makes sense that he would want to tackle a story like Anora as well.

In fact, in an interview with Variety, Baker reflected on how he came to befriend many Sєx workers while creating his 2012 film Starlet and how the experience has shaped his understanding of the profession since then. Baker stated, “If there is one intention with all of these films, I would say it’s by telling human stories,” and that he aims to help “remove the stigma that’s been applied to this livelihood.” Thus, while Anora is not based on real people, it is inspired by Baker’s research and the collective experiences of those who work in the Sєx work industry.

Anora Is Loosely Inspired By A Real Story & Sean Baker’s Experiences

While The Characters Are Not Real, Baker Was Inspired By Real Events

Beyond the general influence that Sean Baker has taken from the Sєx work industry for several of his projects, Anora was actually loosely based on a true story that he had heard from a friend and from his own experience. Baker told Filmmaker magazine that the initial idea came from a story his friend told him “in which a young Russian-American newlywed was kidnapped for collateral,” and from his own experience of editing wedding videos, including Russian-American weddings.

Importantly, the people and stories that inspired Baker definitely helped make Anora and her world feel much more full. These two separate inspirations can very clearly be related to the final product, especially in the social and political workings of Ani and Vanya’s green card marriage and in the second half of the movie following the home invasion scene. Though the movie may not be based on real people, the inspirations behind the film and Sean Baker’s ability to connect all of them together have made Anora one of 2024’s best films.

Sources: Variety, Filmmaker