An American movie with Russian spirit: why everything is wrong with Oscar breakthrough Anora

The 2025 Oscar ceremony was a real triumph for Anora, a movie directed by Sean Baker. The film won five statuettes, including Best Picture and Best Director, and became one of the most talked about films in the industry.

However, the bright wrapper hides an unpleasant reality: the movie is full of references to Russian culture, and Russian actors play key roles. In the context of a full-scale war against Ukraine, such popularization of the fancified Russian world through art is threatening. OBOZ.UA will tell you why everything is wrong with the film.

The plot is a fancified version of the Russian world

The film's protagonist is a young sex worker, Anora (Mikey Madison), who meets the son of a Russian oligarch, Vanya (Russian Mark Eidelstein). He's a typical major who spends his time in strip clubs and doesn't do anything serious. However, his image in the film is romanticized: he is generous, naive, emotional, and even somewhat noble. Vanya "rescues" Anora from her sad life, giving her a chance for a prosperous future.

In addition, the film is literally permeated with Russian symbols: the characters speak Russian, and the traditions and their lifestyle are portrayed in a positive way. The filmmakers did not just integrate Russian characters into a Western context but made them a central part of the story, evoking sympathy for them.

Hollywood is fascinated by Russian actors

Yuri Borisov deserves special attention for playing one of the most important, albeit minor, roles. His character comes across as empathetic, loyal, and sincere, an image that is actively promoted in the film. As a result, Borisov became a real discovery for Hollywood, receiving numerous nominations for prestigious awards (although he never won any). He has participated in events alongside Angelina Jolie, and Robert Downey Jr. even mentioned him in his Oscar 2025 speech.

However, Borisov is not the only Russian actor in the movie. Here are others:

• Mark Eidelstein - Vanya Zakharov, the son of a Russian oligarch;
• Aleksei Serebryakov - Vanya's father;
• Daria Yekamasova - Vanya's mother.

Mikey Madison even learned Russian and visited strip clubs in preparation for the movie.

Thus, Anora has become the gateway for Russian actors to Hollywood, which contradicts the global "trend" of cultural isolation of Russia because of its war crimes in Ukraine.

What is the danger

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has been trying to reduce the influence of Russian culture on the world. The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine and activists emphasize the importance of boycotting Russian art, as it is often used as a propaganda tool.

However, Anora's victory at the 2025 Oscars significantly undermined these efforts. This is not just an award for cinematic art, it is a signal to the world that it is important to hear Russians too. Western audiences who are not deeply immersed in the context of the war may perceive the film as a neutral story without any political overtones. However, in reality, it creates a false image of Russians "not so bad" people, normalizes their presence in the global cultural space and gradually blurs the boundaries between the aggressor and the victim.

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