US film ‘Anora’ wins Cannes’ top award

Sean Baker’s ‘Anora’ clinched the Palme d’Or at Cannes, with Mikey Madison leading as a stripper marrying a Russian oligarch’s son. Their in-laws seek annulment in New York. Danish contenders ‘The Apprentice’ and ‘Pigen med nålen’ were outpaced by the acclaimed ‘Anora’. Baker is the first American to win Cannes’ main prize since 2011. According to Cannes rules, winning a major award precludes receipt of other festival prizes; thus, Anora secured solely the Palme d’Or. Aside from the regular seven Cannes jury prizes, George Lucas received an honorary Palme d’Or, while Mohammad Rasoulof got a special award for ‘The Seed of the Sacred Fig’, after fleeing Iran due to a prison sentence for his critical film.