So much has already been said about this firecracker of a dark comedy. I will tell you what I personally appreciated about it. The narrative doesn't rely on stereotypes. The privileged male is not a predatory, older oligarch with piggish features. He is a 21-year old imbecile. He is actually a few years younger than the woman whose company he buys. Anora herself is not a stereotypically Slavic blonde with inflated lips. She's actually of Central Asian descent, probably Tadjik, as her name suggests. Historically, Russians have been the dominant culture that subjugated other ethnic groups. The manager who works for the Russian oligarch is an Armenian. Casting an actress with a more racially ambiguous look was a smart move. Anora blends in well into the underworld of New York. She could pass for Latin or Middle Eastern.
Another commendable fact is that the Russian characters are actually played by Russian actors. (Imagine that!) That means, no cheesy James Bond villain accent. I encourage you to check out some of the Russian movies they starred in. You can see Daria Ekamasova in the 2011 "One Upon a Time There Lived a Simple Woman" - another great tale of feminine lot. Yura Borisov stays true to his image as gopnik with a heart of gold. He started his career as a Chernobyl hero-martyr in 2014 "Inseparable". These are some solid actors who nail their parts in "Anora".
