Anora - Underneath the Anger

Waking up this week to the film Anora and it’s five Oscar wins, including best actress for Mikey Madison, took me back to the cinematic triumph that is the final scene of the film.

We see Anora in her powerful, sexualised state. The armour of sass and toughness that sees her move through her gritty day to day reality still in action. But, by the final scene her relationship with Igor and his unexpected kindness has punctured her armour enough for her underlying emotions of pain and sadness to pour out.

I found this such a deeply moving moment that speaks to the universal human reality that we nearly all face - the vulnerability of showing our truly wounded selves to another and putting our armour down for long enough to be deeply seen by another.

It can be hard to empathise in the face of anger but underneath anger is often great pain that is too fragile to be touched.

If you haven’t seen it yet, please do.