Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire

I will often joke when discussing a particularly downbeat story that it is the “Feel Bad Movie of the Year.” It is a way for me to get across satirically that a particular film will make you depressed or angry while watching it. For several years now, whenever I have used that phrase, I have had the movie Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire (more commonly known as simply Precious) in mind. I watched it initially in 2010 during the buildup to that year’s Oscars and came away with a feeling of absolute disgust, primarily aimed at one specific character here. So powerful was that feeling that I had no interest in ever revisiting the film. Gabourey Sidibe, who makes her debut here, was so convincing and raw that it just hurt watching what she goes through. It was a barrier that I had to overcome and not one I wanted to do again.  

Time changes perspectives sometimes; so does having foreknowledge of what is coming. My recollection of the film Precious was limited to the first half of the film; I can only assume I was so taken aback by it that I was numb and lost track of where it eventually goes. That was not the case this morning as I sat down and rewatched it for this review. There is no doubt the first half of the film is bleak. But I was unprepared for the level of hope and optimism that permeates the second half. This is a movie about overcoming severe disadvantages and struggles to find a way to get out of it. The optimist in me would like to think that anyone can do the same. Given the right circumstances and a support structure, perhaps they can. But the realities of the world and the limitations of sponsored programs there to help people in these circumstances, means that many just fall by the wayside and are lost. This film should inspire people to help support such programs, but unfortunately, most people didn’t even see this film when it released, and it is somewhat forgotten these days. 

The setting is late 1980s Harlem, New York. Claireece “Precious” Jones (Gabourey Sidibe), who is 16 years old, lives with her unemployed mother, Mary (Mo’Nique), and her boyfriend Carl (Rodney “Bear” Jackson). Carl is Precious’ father, but he also is the father of her child, with a second on the way, born out of incestuous rape. Mary is aware of the rape and blames Precious for taking away her man’s affections. Mary also uses the child, and Precious, too, to manipulate the system and secure government welfare, deliberately lying about their situation to keep the money coming in. She also continuously runs Precious down, calling her stupid and fat, telling her to stop trying to better her lot in life, and just get herself down to the welfare office, perpetuating the cycle of dependence. Precious escapes into daydreams often to deal with all the trauma in her real life. 

When her principal, Mrs. Lichtenstein (Nealla Gordon), finds out about the second pregnancy, she recommends Precious attend an alternative school program called Each One, Teach One, where she hopes Precious can find a way to change the direction her life is headed. There, Precious meets her new teacher, Ms. Blu Rain (Paula Patton), as well as several other girls who come from troubled backgrounds. Slowly, she starts to turn her life around, learning to read and write and gaining a bit of confidence again. When the baby comes, Precious admits to the parental heritage of the child, which cuts off the benefits her mother is getting. Furious, Mary attacks Precious, who is forced to flee with the baby, leaving her home for good. Through the help of Ms. Rain, Precious is able to move into a halfway house. Later, she will find out that her father, Carl, has died of AIDS and gave her HIV, though her child is not carrying the virus. Precious refuses to have anything more to do with her mother, effectively banishing that negative presence from her life. Without her mother’s presence, Precious is able to improve her grades and can finally see a positive future ahead for her. 

Right out the gate, this picture is pretty bleak. We are introduced to Precious as she is attending class, fawning over her handsome teacher, and getting into fights. She mentions she is pregnant, and we get a moment where we see her father throwing her onto the bed, raping her. For a brief moment, we see her mother in the background, observing this rape and doing nothing to stop it. This tells us all that we need to know about Precious’ home life and ensures that we have no sympathies for either parent. Mercifully, we never get to know the father; he exists only in these brief flashes of violence and through the words of those around him. 

Mary is about as despicable of a character as you can get. Her abuse and verbal assaults are so targeted and vile as to border on parody. Yet it doesn’t quite cross that line, even though when these abuses come, they go on for minutes at a time, one horrific insult after another. It is so putrid that I found myself turning away in disgust like I was watching some uber violent scene from a torture porn horror film. Nobody should have to hear that, especially in the home. Mo’Nique perfectly embodies this character to the point that if I saw her in any nicer roles, I would have a hard time accepting it. There is just raw hatred nearly every time she is on screen. I’m sure she is much nicer in person, but seeing her in this really has typecast her in my eyes. Perhaps had I seen her in other roles first, I wouldn’t have that issue. Later in the film, when she is trying to play on our sympathies and those around her, we don’t buy her tears; she has gone too far for us to care about her feelings anymore.

Director Lee Daniels has managed to take what could be considered stunt casting and turned it into sheer brilliance. Mo’Nique isn’t the only one cast against type here. Mariah Carey also plays a pivotal role as a social worker who is there to support Precious during her struggles. This was a role written with Helen Mirren in mind, but when Helen chose to take on a bigger project, Mariah, who had worked with Lee Daniels before, stepped in and took over. Ms. Weiss isn’t meant to be the nicest of characters, but that’s not what Precious needs. She needs some firm guidance, and that is what Weiss provides. Mariah is not the first person that comes to mind when considering who can play such a challenging role, but she had proved herself in Tennessee and has elevated that even further here. Lenny Kravitz also plays a small but important role as a nurse who shows kindness and compassion to Precious after she has her baby.

But of course, the real star of the show is Gabourey Sidibe. Gabourey is not what is typically considered a Hollywood beauty, nor did she want to be. She persevered in her attempts to pursue acting even when one of her idols advised her not to because the industry was “so image-conscious.” Sadly, this is a reality many actors and actresses face when trying to break through, even ones who deliver performances that gain the attention of the Oscars. Gabourey is absolutely perfect for this film and is the heart of the whole thing, but in the years since its release, Hollywood hasn’t really known what to do with her. She has a few credits, but they are primarily in television and voice acting. She has so much more to offer, but the parts haven’t been as forthcoming as they should be. Still, whenever I have seen her in other things she is always a welcome presence. 

The ending of Precious is uplifting. This is meant to make us feel better about her prospects in life now that she has been removed from the abusive environment we first saw her in. It fades out on a close-up of her smiling face on a bright, sunny day in New York, and she deserves to be happy. The realities of the world suggest that there will be many more struggles in her life and that children of abuse often end up right back in an abusive relationship, seeking it out like they cannot function without it. The optimist in me wants to believe that everything will be better for her in the end, but the pessimist in me sees a 16-17-year-old with two kids living in the city trying to get her GED, and it saddens me that she’s in this situation in the first place. No person should ever be put in this position, but unfortunately, so many are. It’s not likely we’ll ever get a follow-up to tell us what happens to Precious in the years since. Instead, we’ll have to be content with making that part of the plot up on our own.

Academy Award Nominations:

Best Picture: Lee Daniels, Sarah Siegel-Magness, and Gary Magness

Best Director: Lee Daniels

Best Actress: Gabourey Sidibe

Best Supporting Actress: Mo’Nique (won)

Best Adapted Screenplay: Geoffrey Fletcher (won)

Best Film Editing: Joe Klotz

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Release Date: November 6, 2009

Running Time: 110 minutes

Rated R

Starring: Mo’Nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey, Sherri Shepherd, Lenny Kravitz, and Gabourey Sidibe

Directed by: Lee Daniels