At the prestigious Cannes Film Festival 2024, Sean Baker’s film “Anora” has triumphantly secured the Palme d’Or, adding another illustrious feather to Baker’s cap and marking the fifth consecutive win for its distributor, Neon. This year’s competition was fierce, with Payal Kapadia’s “All We Imagine As Light” and Mohammed Rasoulof’s “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” earning the Grand Prix and Special Prix awards, respectively.
Baker, who has long been a celebrated figure at Cannes, accepted the award with a poignant and somewhat humorous reflection on his career. “This has literally been my singular goal as a filmmaker for the past 30 years,” he quipped. “I’m not really sure what I’m going to do with my life now.”
Sean Baker rose to prominence with his 2017 film “The Florida Project,” a touching exploration of life on society’s margins through the eyes of a mother and daughter. He followed up with “Red Rocket” in 2021, a gritty narrative about a washed-up porn star returning to his Texas hometown. Both films have solidified Baker’s reputation for capturing the intricate lives of marginalized communities.
“Anora,” his latest project, continues this thematic focus by delving into the life of a 23-year-old stripper from New York City, portrayed by Mikey Madison. Alongside Madison, the film features performances by Mark Eydelshteyn, Yuriy Borisov, Karren Karagulian, and Vache Tovmasyan. The plot thickens as Anora’s life is turned upside down after meeting Vanya, the son of a Russian oligarch. The film’s powerful narrative and compelling performances culminated in a 10-minute standing ovation at its Cannes premiere.
In his acceptance speech, Baker dedicated the award to sex workers, emphasizing, “This is for all sex workers, past, present, and future, this is for you.” His dedication to preserving the stories of sex workers on screen is not just a creative endeavor but a deeply personal mission, stemming from his 2012 film “Starlet.” Following its release, Baker forged lasting relationships with individuals in the adult film industry, a factor that has greatly influenced his subsequent work. “I became friends with [sex workers] and realized there were a million stories from that world,” Baker said in an interview at Cannes.
. “If there is one intention with all of these films, I would say it’s by telling human stories, by telling stories that are hopefully universal. It’s helping remove the stigma that’s been applied to this livelihood.”
The filmmaker also addressed the pressing issue of preserving the theatrical experience in contemporary cinema. “Right now as filmmakers we need to fight to keep cinema alive. This means making feature films intended for theatrical expedition. The world has to be reminded that watching a film at home while scrolling through your phone and checking emails and messages is just not the way, even though some tech companies would like us to think so,” he urged.
Baker’s relentless pursuit of humanizing marginalized stories has earned him accolades and a dedicated following. “Anora” not only shines a spotlight on the often overlooked lives of sex workers but also stands as a testament to the art of storytelling in cinema. The resonance of Baker’s films has found a home at Cannes, where nuanced, character-driven narratives are celebrated.
This victory also highlights the remarkable streak of Neon’s success at Cannes. “Anora” follows the path of previous Palme d’Or winners distributed by Neon — “Anatomy of a Fall” (2023), “Triangle of Sadness” (2022), “Titane” (2021), and “Parasite” (2019). These films have not only dominated the Cannes scene but have also translated their success into the awards circuit, earning nominations and wins at the Oscars, including Best Picture nods and triumphs.
With “Anora,” Baker and Neon have once again proven that poignant, challenging, and humanistic cinema can thrive in a competitive landscape. As Baker contemplates his future after achieving a lifelong dream, one thing is clear: his voice and perspective will remain integral to the fabric of modern cinema, encouraging audiences and filmmakers alike to delve deeper into stories that challenge societal norms and celebrate the complexity of the human experience.
As the curtain closes on the 77th Cannes Film Festival, the legacy of “Anora” and Sean Baker’s contributions to cinema continue to resonate, reminding the world of the transformative power of storytelling.
