From courtesans to miners: 5 films to watch if you liked `Anora`

Contents:
And they are no worse, and perhaps even better than an Oscar-winning drama.

"Anora" by Sean Baker became the major winner of the "Oscar-2025," capturing the hearts of critics and audiences. The film took home five statuettes, including awards for "Best Picture," "Best Director," "Best Screenplay," "Best Editing," and "Best Actress" (the stunning Mikey Madison).

"Anora" is not just a melodrama, but a bold, poignant, and at times shocking film about love, dreams, and difficult choices. If you're looking for something similar in spirit, atmosphere, and theme, here are 5 films you must watch.

Pretty Woman (1990)

How can we do without a classic? The story of Vivian Ward, who transforms from a call girl into a true lady, is very much reminiscent of Anora's fate. Both heroines undergo a transformation, face prejudices, and seek their place in a world that initially seems foreign to them.
Richard Gere and Julia Roberts in the movie "Pretty Woman"
Scene from the movie "Pretty Woman"
Source:
The film tells the story of financial magnate Edward Lewis (Richard Gere), who accidentally meets Vivian (Julia Roberts) and offers her a deal: she must spend a week with him, pretending to be his companion, for a substantial reward. But this week changes the lives of both.
The film has many memorable lines, and if you fall in love with it, you'll return to it again and again. It is perhaps the best romantic comedy of the '90s. Although many films have tried to recreate its charm, none have succeeded in replacing this film as the pinnacle of the genre.
Reviewer m_madhu from "Imdb"

Compartment No. 6 (2021)

A Finnish-Russian film that won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival. It tells the story of a chance meeting between two dissimilar people on a train traveling from Moscow to Murmansk. As in "Anora", there is room for unexpected attraction, the clash of different worlds, and the search for closeness in the most unexpected places. The film features "Anora" participant Yura Borisov.
Yura Borisov and Seidi Haarla on a snowy shore against the backdrop of a fishing boat in a scene from the film "Compartment No. 6"
A scene from the film "Compartment No. 6"
Source:
A Finnish student, Laura (Seidi Haarla), travels to a Russian northern city to see ancient petroglyphs. On the train, she finds herself sharing a compartment with a rough Russian miner named Lyoha (Yura Borisov). Their forced companionship turns into an unexpected and touching journey.
"Compartment No. 6" is not a film about the solitude of those close to us. It's a stroke about how often there is more closeness in those far away than in those nearby. The film is directed by a man, but it sees the world through a woman's eyes. We know almost nothing about the male character until the credits. And why would we need to? Amidst subtle dramaturgy and precise dialogues, the director hints at the closeness of the Finnish and Russian soul.
Reviewer Dartdimm from "KinoPoisk"

Belle de Jour (1967)

Luis Buñuel's masterpiece is a bold and provocative film that explores the dark sides of female sexuality and hidden desires. Like Anora, the protagonist leads a double life, trying to find an outlet for her fantasies and dissatisfaction.
Catherine Deneuve thoughtfully leans on the table in a scene from the film 'Belle de Jour'
A Scene from the Film 'Belle de Jour'
Source:
Séverine (Catherine Deneuve), the wife of a successful surgeon, suffers from boredom and dissatisfaction in her marriage. She takes a job at a brothel, where she spends her daytime hours bringing her boldest fantasies to life. The film may shock, but it will certainly make you think about the boundaries of what is permissible and the nature of human desires.
An excellent example of how a master of cinema, in close collaboration with a master actress, explores the female psyche, covering the entire spectrum of possible emotions, while never descending into crudeness and oversimplification.
Reviewer bix171 from 'Imdb'

Tangerine (2015)

This film, shot on an iPhone, impresses with its realism and energy. The story of two transgender sex workers in Los Angeles searching for love and justice on Christmas Eve is remarkably in tune with "Anora." Both films depict life "on the fringe," full of drama and humor.
A blonde in short shorts walks along the sidewalk in a scene from the film "Tangerine"
A scene from the film "Tangerine"
Source:
Sin-Dee Rella (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez), just released from prison, learns that her boyfriend and pimp Chester has been cheating on her. Together with her best friend Alexandra, she sets out to find Chester and his new flame to deal with them in her own way.
Many individual scenes are funny, while others are filled with tension. The acting throughout the film is strong and human, and the iPhone cinematography is striking in its depth and range... one would never suspect such "equipment" was used. This approach allowed for an organic street feel.
Reviewer ferguson-6 from "Imdb"

Strana Sasha (2022)

A poignant coming-of-age drama about self-discovery starring Mark Eidelstein, who played Kolya, the son of a Russian oligarch, in "Anora." The protagonist of "Strana," 17-year-old Sasha, is on the brink of major changes and is trying to understand his feelings and desires. Like Anora, he seeks his own path, facing misunderstanding and pressure from those around him.
Mark Eidelstein in a scene from the movie 'Strana Sasha'
A scene from the movie 'Strana Sasha'
Source:
Sasha is a gentle and insecure teenager who has just finished school. He lives with his mother and is passionate about drawing, painting graffiti on city walls. One day, Sasha meets a girl named Zhenya (Maria Matsel), and this encounter makes him see himself and his life from a new perspective.
If I were asked to make a film about teenagers, this is exactly the kind of film I would make - bright, sunny, with a pinch of humor and lightness, addressing all the questions that adults might find trivial, but for young people, this is a time of difficult challenges, decisions, for which young people have no solutions due to their lack of experience. This film brings warmth and the feeling that you are not alone.
Reviewer HochuHollywood from Kinopoisk
Keep this list to avoid losing it, and share in the comments: which film do you think is most similar to "Anora"?