"Anora" Star Mikey Madison Considers This Film One of the Best in History. And It Was Shot on iPhone

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Let's figure out why the actress included this drama in her list of favorites...

She could have named anything among her favorite films — classics, festival hits, Oscar-winning dramas. But in her list of the best films of the 21st century for The New York Times, the actress who became famous after "Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood" and won an Oscar for "Anora" included a film shot on... three iPhone 5S cameras.

One of favorite movies is called "Tangerine." And it proves you don't need a massive budget to reach viewers' hearts.

Director Sean Baker made this film in 2015. Handheld camera, Los Angeles streets, actors without big names — but with raw energy you definitely can't fake on a soundstage.

What's the film about?

In spirit, this drama distantly echoes its "cinema sister" with five Oscars — "Anora," which, by the way, was also created by Baker. No surprise there, since Sean's style shines through here too.
Actress Mikey Madison smiles and looks to the side, next to silhouettes of two girls standing against the sky
Mikey Madison and the poster for "Tangerine"
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The action unfolds in Los Angeles on Christmas Eve. The main character is explosive and charismatic Sin-Dee Rella (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez), who just got out of prison.

Her best friend Alexandra (Mya Taylor) meets her and reluctantly reveals unpleasant news: while Sin-Dee was locked up, her boyfriend and pimp got himself a new girl.

Outraged beyond belief, our heroine launches into a street odyssey — complete with chases, scandals, and explosive confrontations.

Why "Tangerine"?

I used this word earlier, but I can't help repeating it. "Tangerine" is pure energy. No gloss, no glamour. Baker creates a world with film language that might seem rough, but it's real — and that's its charm.
A girl with a bag in her hands walks down a sun-drenched street, next to a movie poster featuring silhouettes of two girls
A frame and poster from "Tangerine"
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This seems to be exactly what won over Madison — as an actress, as Sean's student, and as a viewer.

And there's something else in this film that's very close to my heart. Internationality. The same quality that becomes an important part of "Anora." In "Tangerine," among the characters are not only Americans but also Armenian characters. One of them is Armen Karagulian, who played the colorful role of taxi driver Razmik here. And later became the memorable Toros in "Anora."

That's how two films made nearly a decade apart turn out to be relatives not only in style but in spirit. Earlier, we at zoomboola.com told you about the anime that captivated the "Twilight" star — and made it onto the list of the greatest films of the 21st century.