“Anora,” the dark romantic comedy about a Brighton Beach stripper who falls for the unreliable son of a wealthy Russian oligarch, was the big winner at the Oscars on Sunday scoring five of its six nominations, including best picture, best director for Sean Baker, and best actress for Mikey Madison.
The independent film, made for $6 million, carried Baker to a new Oscar record as the first person ever to have four individual wins for one film in a single year. In addition to best picture and best director, Baker also won Oscars for best editing and best original screenplay.
“The Brutalist” won three Oscars including best actor for Adrien Brody as well as Oscars for cinematography and original score. “Emilia Perez,” “Dune Part 2,” and “Wicked” each won two Oscars in various categories.
“Anora” also set a less-welcome Oscar record. With just over $15 million in its theatrical release, it becomes the best picture winner with the lowest box office totals in Oscar history.
“We’re all here tonight and watching this broadcast because we love the movies,” Baker said after winning for best director. “Where did we fall in love with the movies? At the theater.
“At a time in which the world can feel very divided, this is more important than ever,” he continued. “Filmmakers, keep making films for the big screen. I know I will. Distributors, please focus first and foremost on the theatrical releases. Parents, introduce your children to movies in movie theaters, and you’ll be molding the next generation of moviegoers.”
Baker also thanked director Quentin Tarantino, who presented the best director category, for casting “Anora” star Mikey Madison in his 2019 film “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.”
Madison, who until then was mostly known for her run on the FX series “Better Things,” turns 26 later in March and seemed a little in shock at besting Demi Moore, who’d won many of the precursor honors, and the other actresses in her category.
“Wow, this is very surreal,” she said as she unfolded a speech from which to remember all her thanks. “I grew up in Los Angeles, but Hollywood always felt so far away from me.”
Adrien Brody’s best actor win for “The Brutalist” is his second best actor Oscar after winning in 2003 for “The Pianist.” In both films, his character was a Jewish man struggling to survive the Holocaust and its aftermath, something he noted in his acceptance.
“I’m here once again to represent the lingering traumas and the repercussions of systemic oppression and of antisemitism and racism,” Brody said after waving off the orchestra as it started to play him off. “I pray for a healthier and happier and more inclusive world. And I believe if the past can teach us anything, it’s a reminder to not let hate go unchecked.”