The Filmmaker Who Wants to Wake Us From the American Dream.

This article focuses on Sean Baker, an independent filmmaker known for his low-budget, realist films featuring marginalized characters, who has gained mainstream recognition with his latest film, *Anora*. Baker's approach involves casting nonactors, emphasizing authenticity through collaboration with communities portrayed, and rejecting typical Hollywood practices like test screenings. *Anora*, a screwball romantic comedy and thriller about a sex worker's tumultuous marriage to a Russian oligarch's son, won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, marking a significant milestone in Baker's career. Despite his rising profile, Baker remains committed to telling stories about outsiders pursuing the American dream through unconventional means, balancing humor and poignancy while maintaining creative independence.