Sean Baker has won best director at the Oscars for “Anora,” the story of a Brooklyn exotic dancer who marries the impetuous son of a Russian oligarch

Anora,” a strip-club Cinderalla story without the fairy tale ending, was crowned best picture at the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday, handing Sean Baker’s gritty, Brooklyn-set screwball farce Hollywood’s top prize.

Anora” was crowned best picture at the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday, handing Sean Baker’s gritty, Brooklyn-set screwball farce Hollywood’s top prize.

Anora,” Sean Baker’s edgy comedy about an exotic dancer in Brooklyn, emerged as the big winner at the 97th Academy Awards with five Oscars, including best picture, best director and best actress for Mikey Madison.

Baker’s four Oscars for “Anora” are validation of his sensitive portrayals of people on the margins who always seem to come up short.

With wins for best picture, directing, writing and editing on 'Anora,' Baker has set a new bar for Oscars success.

Baker conceived of the film as being rooted in a home invasion scene. Madison gets her screams in — and some punches — when Garnik and Igor come calling. The goal is to round up Ani and Vanya so they can get the marriage annulled, but Vanya legs it out the front door, leaving his new bride to deal with the fallout.

Baker, born in Summit and grew up in Short Hills and Branchburg, made history by becoming the first person to win 4 Oscars for 1 film.

New Jersey indie film auteur Sean Baker is now an Oscar-winning director. Baker has centered most of his films around sex workers. The movies have been well received, but none have reached the heights of “Anora,