Los Angeles, March 3
Sean Baker’s “Anora”, a movie about a sex worker who marries the pampered son of a Russian oligarch, won big at the 97th Academy Awards as it took home five Oscars, including Best Picture.
It was also a race that unfolded during one of the worst natural disasters in Los Angeles history, something that the Oscars reflected with tributes to the firefighters who came to the aid of communities impacted by the wildfires, as well as with a montage highlighting the many films shot in the city, from “The Long Goodbye” to “Licorice Pizza.”
Sean Baker, the maverick behind “Anora,” won for producing, directing, editing and writing the film’s screenplay.
His latest film was a favorite with critics and its Oscar success is a statement-making moment for Neon, the indie distributor behind “Anora,” which previously guided “Parasite” to a best picture statue in 2020.
However, having earned $40 million globally, “Anora” also ranks as one of the lowest grossing Best Picture winners in history, reports variety.com.
Adrien Brody and Mikey Madison took the top acting honors. Brody, a previous winner for “The Pianist,” played a brilliant, but troubled architect in “The Brutalist,” while Madison scored an upset victory for her portrayal of an exotic dancer under pressure to get an annulment.