Precious: A Film That is Anything But
“Precious,” a movie based upon the novel Push by Sapphire, brought the harsh reality of a young girl named Precious to audiences everywhere. About fifteen minutes into the film Director Lee Daniels brings you into this character’s horrid world, by showing Precious’s father raping her. The scene warns you that the film is not a fairytale but a story of survival. Survival from poverty, body image, HIV, and abuse.
The character Precious, who is played by new comer Gabourey Sidibe is a reminder of what many unfortunate souls go through on a daily basis. Though not everyone may experience every hardship that Precious deals with in the movie, there is at least one issue that a lot of individuals can relate to. But abuse is the main hardship that Daniels consistently uses in the film, to get you to feel remorse for Precious. Abuse not only from her father, who also fathered two of her children, but from her mother who sets out to torture her everyday for the rape that occurred.
The abuse is taken to a more drastic level with Precious’s mom, played by Monique. Monique portrays a mentally unstable woman, who abuses Precious both verbally and physically. One intense scene in the film, has Precious running down a flight of stairs, while her mother attempts to kill her by hitting her with a television she throws over the ledge.
There is hope at the end of the tunnel for Precious though. The conclusion has Precious leaving her mother for good and taking her two children with her. The end doesn’t really explain what will happen to Precious, but perhaps Daniels wanted people to assume the impossible for the character. Have their own assumptions as to where life takes Precious from there.
The movie will bring tears to your eyes from the pain this character experiences, along with shock and awe from the performances of the talented cast. One of the best performances in the movie is no doubt Monique, who earned an Academy Award for best supporting actress. Monique’s villain performance makes you despise her character while at the same time you can’t help but be impressed at how much work and emotion she put into this role.
It’s a top-notch movie and Daniels did more than an okay job with directing the film. In fact, he did a precious job.
