American filmmaker Sean Baker has carved out a stellar career thus far, bringing stories of the disenfranchised to the big screen with his signature larger than life scope, finding humour and pathos where others wallow in trauma and scorn. His first film to play at The Lexi was TANGERINE in 2015 which has since become a Christmas classic on the alternative cinema circuit. He followed this with 2017's THE FLORIDA PROJECT garnering critical acclaim and further notoriety, culminating in a Best Supporting Actor nomination for Willem Dafoe. Sean's first time in competition at Cannes was in 2021 with RED ROCKET, playing here in 2022. Though well received it went home empty handed, with the exception of a Grand Jury Prize for Sophie in the Palm Dog Awards!
His latest film ANORA was this year's Palme d'Or winner at Cannes in May and is hotly tipped as a major contender at next year's Academy Awards. It follows the titular character (a star-making turn from Mikey Madison) who gets her chance at a Cinderella story when she meets and impulsively marries the son of an oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairytale is threatened as his parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled.
An exceptional ensemble cast, ambitious cinematography and Sean's always inspired needle drops breath vivid yet tangible life into this often chaotic portrayal of the American dream. The glamour and the ugliness go hand in hand in this breathless Brooklyn based dramedy.
Screening at The Lexi from Friday 8th November, Anora is truly unmissable cinema!
The Golden Trio
Sean isn't the only prestigious prize-winner playing at The Lexi at the moment. In fact in a potential Lexi first, we're playing the three big film festivals' top prize winners next week!
Mati Diop's incredible documentary DAHOMEY deservedly took home the Golden Bear in Berlin at the beginning of the year, becoming only the second African film to win the festival's top prize. Playing on our screens from today, this singular work is as spellbinding as it is essential.
And not forgetting Pedro Almodóvar's English language feature debut THE ROOM NEXT DOOR which won the Golden Lion in Venice a few months ago. Starring the indomitable Julianne Moore and equally indomitable Tilda Swinton, we're continuing to screen the film after sold out screenings throughout the last week!
So that's a Golden Palme, Bear and Lion to choose from. Better yet, watch all three on the big screen at The Lexi.
