CANNES, France, — Part of director Sean Baker’s objective in making “Anora,” a wildly funny and touching drama about a young exotic dancer who becomes involved with the son of a Russian oligarch, was sexual acts. The stigma surrounding it had to be removed, he said on Wednesday. ,

“It’s important to explore what sex work is in the modern age,” Baker told reporters at the Cannes Film Festival, where the competition film premiered on Tuesday.

“It’s a career and a job that should be respected. In my opinion – guilt-free – it’s up to them to make that decision.”

Baker said she was introduced to the adult film world while doing research for 2012’s “Starlet.”

“There are millions of stories to tell in that world,” he said.

“Anora” continues a series of sex worker-focused films from Baker, including 2021 Cannes entry “Red Rocket” and 2017’s “The Florida Project,” which she has no plans to stop.

“We are already talking about the next one and it involves a sex worker. So let’s see what happens,” he added.

“Anora” stars Mickey Madison as the lead character, who meets Vanya, the precocious son of a Russian oligarch with unlimited money, while working at a strip club.

Vanya, played by Mark Edelshtein, hires Anora as his girlfriend for a week, and without thinking, decides to fly on his private plane to party in Las Vegas, where their wedding takes place. it occurs. Her disappointed parents were so upset by this decision that they traveled from Russia to ensure that it was annulled.

Reviews were positive, with The Guardian newspaper giving the “brilliant” film four out of five stars and The Hollywood Reporter calling it “a deeply satisfying film that deftly comments on questions of class, privilege and the division of wealth.” Is.”

Shooting the sex scenes was a collaborative process that included input from the actors, said Madison, who chose not to use an intimacy coordinator or bring in a stunt double.

Madison said, “It was fun to shoot those scenes and it was also a lot of fun to shoot all the lap dance scenes.”

Baker said he would support an actor’s decision to use an intimacy coordinator – someone who helps choreograph TV and film scenes involving sex or nudity and ensures that actors are not exploited. – but he was comfortable directing a sex scene without it.

“Our first priority is to keep our artists safe, protected, comfortable and included in the process,” he said.

Anora Group Oyj

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