We’ve been gagging to see Sean Baker’s Palme-d’Or winning film Anora since whispers of the production graced the internet. A modern retelling of a Pretty Women-esque story about a sex worker who meets a Russian oligarch’s son; a soundtrack spanning Take That, t.A.T.u and Slayyyter; everything shot 35mm film (not trying to be a snob! It just looks better!); a director who treats sex work with respect; a star making performance from Mikey Madison; the perfect dialogue in the trailer: “Yo, did you pick up milk?” “Do you see milk in the fridge?” “No.” “Then I didn’t pick up the fucking milk.”
All that to say: we were thrilled to host a bounty of friends at two special Ensemble Presents screenings of Anora on Wednesday night. One in Auckland, at the Hollywood Avondale, and a more intimate affair at Wellington’s Lighthouse Cuba.
On what felt like one of the hottest days in Tāmaki we’ve seen so far this summer – fitting, giving the steaminess of the film – droves of the city’s coolest and cutest turned out to celebrate independent cinema (and soon to be independent media!).
Among the guests were designers Kate Sylvester, Deanna Didovich of Ruby, Rachel Mills, Jasmin Scott of Jasmin Sparrow, Kate Megaw of Penny Sage, Rory Docherty, Lauren Tapper of Harris Tapper, Anja Bucher of Ohen and more.
Joining them were comedian Eli Matthewson, Mai FM’s Tegan Yorwarth, musician Lawrence Arabia, poet Tayi Tibble, writer (and Ensemble contributor) Saraid de Silva, actor and model Awa Puna, actor Jess Fong, filmmaker and director of We Were Dangerous Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu, filmmaker and photographer Julie Zhu, filmmaker Hweiling Ow, playwright Nathan Joe, actor and filmmaker Michelle Ang, plus a whole raft of people who’ve contributed to and/or been featured on Ensemble over our four years.
But first, cake. We kicked off proceedings in the courtyard beforehand, feasting on peak Ensemble-core pink buns, lamingtons and sheet cake, washing it (/cooling us) all down with a Moscow Mule cocktail special.
In true festive spirit, there was also a Christmas tree, where guests left canned goods, sanitary products and more that we donated to the Auckland City Mission’s HomeGround the next day.
Speaking of Christmas, Anora is out in Aotearoa on Boxing Day, so if you need a family outing (or escape) put it in your calendar. But maybe leave the kids at home for this one.
Before we ended the suspense and hit play on the film, Rebecca got everyone to sing an early happy birthday to Zoe – simultaneously Zoe’s worst nightmare and very sweet!
They also took the opportunity to thank everyone who has made Ensemble what it is today. As mentioned, Ensemble are about to take back the brand under independent ownership – and its continued strength, amidst an admittedly pretty bleak time for media, is thanks to the support of not only the people in the room, but the people reading it (you!).
So thank you, and please enjoy these photos – taken by Abigail Dell’Avo – of one of the reasons we love what we do so much.
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