Precious

Precious: Based on the novel Push by Sapphire


I read the book Push only two months ago, in anticipation of the film based on this written work. The story, while compelling, was appalling to say the least. There was no way that I would ever finish reading it if I didn’t read it straight through without stopping. So that’s what I did and I couldn’t get the images out of my mind for a week. My feelings of sorrow for the story’s main character Precious stayed with me for quite some time. I was not sure that I would be able to sit though the entire film if it was a true reenactment of the book.
Director Lee Daniels, and screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher tried their best to create moments where the audience could exhale as we watched the miserable life of Claireece Precious Jones unfold before our eyes, and let the obvious sounds of abuse and neglect pollute our ears. This is something that the novel does not do for the reader. There are no moments of relief, no fantasy scenes created for your imagination, no stopping the misery on almost every page of this story. Daniels’ attempt at lightness in the film does little to shield you from this modern day horror story.
The monstrous behavior of Precious’ mother Mary, played by Mo’Nique, is even more shocking on the big screen. Reading about the ugly tirades, near fatal attacks and fierce verbal abuse that she would regularly unleash on her only child alienated me from this woman. The film further removed me from her character, for she is portrayed an overgrown monster of a woman, unfit to be a mother and detached from any sense of civility.
You will, however, root for Precious with every fiber of your being while sitting through this film. She suffers through her young life in an unimaginable way. The audience quickly learns that Precious cannot read or write, does not understand what is going on in her classes so that at 16 years old she is still in the 7th grade, has been repeatedly raped by her father since the age of 3 years old, has one baby with Downs Syndrome (a term that Precious cannot even articulate in her ignorance), and is pregnant again—both children produced through these regular rapes of which her mother is fully aware. Her school principal is the one who will unexpectedly lead Precious to a window of opportunity, although she is initially viewed and treated as another person out to victimize this young girl. Even though you want her to get out of this situation, it is hard to believe that Precious can ever overcome this terrible existence and you leave the theater wondering what really happened to her in the end.
Gabourey Sidibe gives a brilliant performance as the role of 16 year-old Precious (ten years her real life junior), as does Paula Patton as Precious’ savior, Ms. Rain. Both of these ladies play roles that will tug at your heartstrings throughout the entire film.
Mo’Nique is very convincing as the inhumane Mary. Although there has been a huge “Oscar buzz” around her performance, Mary is never humanized in the film. There is no moment where you can empathize with this woman. The film offered no explanation for her lack of basic humanity; instead she is portrayed as a short step up from animal. Though she may be nominated, it will be challenging to select a clip of Mo’Nique’s degrading monologues to win an Academy Award. On the other hand, I would love to see Gabourey take home the Oscar for her interpretation of a young girl who, against all odds, never gives up hope and fights to attain a better life for herself and her children even though she has no idea what “better” looks like up close.