Watch this if you dare.
The movie Precious is based on the novel Push by Sapphire. It was an award-winning novel about an overweight 16-year-old girl who endures severe verbal, physical and sexual abuse. While the storyline has “Lifetime Movie” written all over it, the director Lee Daniels gives you a raw and gritty view of it.
What is the real treat, is the amazing acting done by newcomer Gabourey Sidibe (making her acting début as Precious) and comedian Mo’nique (as Precious’s vicious mother). The rest of the cast holds their own as well (even a downplayed Mariah Carey).
The story takes place in 1987, where we are introduced to morbidly obese Precious, an illiterate pregnant 16-year-old. She lives in New York with her father, who is the bearer of her two children, and her unemployed violent mother. In order to tune out the abuse she endures, Precious rely’s on fantasy and imagination to keep herself together. After getting pregnant for the second time, she is forced to leave her school and is put into a program for struggling teens. It is at this school, she is introduced to women who all start to see the power that is Precious. Her teacher pushes her hard to succeed, even when she doesn’t think she can do it. The girls in the class, while all struggling with their own addictions, start to believe in Precious and for once Precious starts to believe in herself. All of these high’s though, come right back with some low’s and it is her strength that makes you want to believe that eventually she will succeed.
This movie is not for everyone, and I suggest you prepare yourself ahead of time for what you might see. The abuse Precious’s mother gives to her is so severe it can make your stomach turn. The camera is not shy and delves deep into the seedy world of abuse. You want to scream at the screen and say “Precious! Run! Get out of there!!” but alas you know she stays by her mother’s side. There are scenes involving the children that at times I had to look away, knowing that this is only a movie, at times it felt all too real.
I truly hope this film get’s recognized for its acting, and not pushed aside for the raw nature of it. I associate this movie to a car crash. You know you see the accident up ahead and you know you shouldn’t look, but somehow you are tempted to glance at the carnage. This is a movie that you shouldn’t watch but at the same time MUST be watched, but I have to say it is one film I never have to see again.
