Directed by Lee Daniels
Claireece ‘Precious’ Jones (brilliantly played by Gabourey Sidibe in her first acting role) lives in 1987 Harlem. Being stared at on the street and bullied at school because of her extreme obesity is nothing compared to the living hell at home. Her home-life is a horror story where she was sexually abused by her father and carrying a second child to him, and physically and emotionally abused by her mother. Precious consoles herself by drifting off into a dream world where she is a fashion model with a handsome boyfriend who loves her for who she is on the inside, but she is terrified that people will find out that she can’t read or write.
Answering criticisms about his bleak portrayal, openly gay director Daniels just says that he knows first-hand that ‘precious girls’ do exist. Precious is one of those young people who appear on statistics of those largely written off by society. The film is harrowing, like the novel it is based on – ‘Push’ by Sapphire, who wrote from her experiences as a teacher. Executive producer Oprah Winfrey, who has come out about her childhood abuse, maintains that all it takes is the intervention of one person for hope to blossom.
Referred to a special school for similar ‘lost causes’, Precious is given unconditional love by her teacher Ms Rain (Paula Patton), who just happens to be a ‘straight up lesbian’. She finds friendship amongst the group of social rejects at the school and maternity nurse (Lenny Kravitz) shows her kindness. Her university-educated social worker Mrs Weiss (Mariah Carey) is way out of her depth but she does persevere to uncover what is happening behind the closed doors at home. These people make Precious’ story an uplifting one.
Lezly Herbert
