[Quick Summary: After Ani, an exotic dancer, marries Ivan, a Russian billionaire's son, she grapples with his family's goons who insist they get an annulment.]
PROGRAMMING NOTE: For this year's 2025 Oscar roundup, I'm going to feature my single favorite line from each of the 10 scripts.
This was a well written, clear, character based script with heart and hope. Some may consider it a dark comedy (I agree) &/or a rom-com (I do not).
The line I chose surprised me because it came late in Act 3 and shifted my mood:
- Ivan has left Ani to fend for herself with his parents' goons.
- She has agreed to help them find Ivan if she got to speak to Ivan one last time.
- They find Ivan, drunk, back at the gentleman's club.
- Ani finds Diamond humping Ivan in a private room.
- Diamond is competing exotic dancer who hates Ani.
- Diamond saw Ivan enter the club alone and played up to him.
- I liked that the dynamics are complicated: Lulu (Ani's friend) and Igor (a goon) are trying to help Ani. Diamond (enemy) is trying to stir up trouble for her.
- The script sets up Ani-Diamond animosity well before this point, but it's never resolved. I liked this sentence's clarity that now we're shifting into high gear.
INT. HEADQUARTERS PRIVATE ROOM - CONTINUOUS
...Lulu and Igor try to de-escalate and Diamond is all about escalating.
WHAT I'VE LEARNED: If you don't know how to describe a mood, try to describe its effects on the other party.
Here, escalating/de-escalating are hard-to-describe, ephemeral feelings, but the dynamic is clear (calm vs. upsetting).
Anora (2025)(4/22/23 green draft)
by Sean Baker
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