When you think of romantic comedies, you probably picture charming meet-cutes in posh neighborhoods or quirky cafes. But what happens when you take that formula and drop it into the gritty, diverse streets of immigrant Brooklyn? That’s exactly what the Oscar-nominated film Anora does—and it’s anything but ordinary.

Directed by Sean Baker, Anora has already made waves with six Academy Award nods, including Best Picture and Best Director. The film stars Mark Eydelshteyn as the son of a Russian oligarch and Mikey Madison as a sex worker, weaving their story into the fabric of Brooklyn—far from the borough’s usual hipster hangouts.

Forget about open shelving and artisanal coffee shops. Anora takes viewers deep into a Brooklyn that’s raw, unfiltered, and steeped in the realities of immigrant life. The setting isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a character in itself, shaping the film’s themes of class, wealth, and love in ways that feel fresh and unapologetically real.

One striking detail? The multimillion-dollar home where Eydelshteyn’s character lives, complete with water-cooler empties piled on the porch. It’s a small but telling nod to the film’s nuanced take on wealth and privilege in modern America.

Rom-coms often rely on familiar tropes, but Anora flips the script, proving that even in a well-worn genre, there’s always room for something new. This isn’t just a love story—it’s a love letter to the Brooklyn you don’t often see on screen.