It’s easy to have all the solutions to someone else’s problems, like when we scream at the screen during a horror movie. We want the heroine to escape, but in the heat of the moment and with a knife to her neck, it’s hard for her to be logical. She’s going the wrong way. Why didn’t she hit him with the coat rack?
Clareece Precious Jones does not have a knife to her throat – if only her life could be that simple – but we just keep wishing she would break that window and run to safety.
Precious, the film directed by openly gay director Lee Daniels and based on the novel Push by bisexual writer Sapphire, tells the story of 16-year-old Precious Jones, played by actress Gabourey “Gabby” Sidibe. Obese, pregnant with her second child and illiterate, one cannot help but wonder how she got to this place. Rather quickly and unapologetically, we learn.
Raped by her father, physically and emotionally abused by her mother (to the point where the word “abuse” barely does it justice) and with no friends to turn to, Precious’ life is quite frankly hard to watch. She gets a “break” when her principal decides to send her to an alternative school.
It’s here, a Harlem classroom in the late 80s, where we meet teacher Blu Rain – played by the gorgeous and talented Paula Patton – and a group of other young women hoping to learn enough to get their GEDs.
Despite her name, beauty and level of compassion for the girls in the classroom, Ms. Rain is not a light and fluffy character. She knows how the welfare system and the New York Public School system failed these girls. Her teaching style borders on activism – she’s an intellectual, a lesbian and is not about to let these girls fail under her watch.
As the film progressed, I found myself longing for those moments in the classroom. Ms. Rain and the girls provide much-needed relief from the things that take place in the Jones household.
Precious’ mom, played by comedian and actor Mo’Nique, is horrifying. Glued to her recliner and television, she truly believes her own daughter “stole” her boyfriend from her and has virtually no remorse for her actions. From Precious being forced to eat and being beaten with frying pans, to (even more) sexual abuse, the Jones home is worse than any horror film I’ve seen.
The film is relentless. If there is a light at the end of the tunnel at all, there is bound to be much more suffering before Precious gets to it. Unlike other tales of abuse survivors on the big screen, the film is not wrapped up in a pretty bow, but things are getting better.
Precious has been beaten and broken, but has not lost all hope – which is a miracle given her situation. She loves to learn, and as her education progresses in Ms. Rain’s class, she seems better equipped to deal with all the difficulties life keeps throwing at her.
When Precious discovers that Ms. Rain is a lesbian, she is shocked for a moment – but then thinks it through. Her mother has told her that homosexuals are bad people, but Precious begins listing off all the things “homos” didn’t do to her: they didn’t abuse her, didn’t rape her, didn’t do anything but help her out of a dire situation.
This part of the film made the hair on my arms stand up. I was so impressed not only with the lesbians in Precious’ class and Ms. Rain’s sexuality being mentioned, but that the film took the time to point out something so obvious: Gays are not the enemy, and why do people think that, anyway?
Homosexuality is not glazed over or included in the film for shock-value, likely thanks to Sapphire, a bisexual feminist who was involved in lesbian activism in New York in the late-70s.
The acting in the movie is impressive to say the least. Mariah Carey plays social worker Mrs. Weiss, who Precious needs in order to get her mother’s beloved welfare checks and who eventually holds a meeting with Precious and Mrs. Jones – one of the most intense moments in the film.
Sidibe captures Precious perfectly. I walked out of the theater knowing no one else could have pulled off that role, and expect to see much more of her in the future.
The term “Oscar-worthy” has been thrown around quite a bit in discussions of the film, and one nomination I would bet money on is for Mo’Nique as Mrs. Jones. While watching her performance, I found myself saying “Who knew?” Lenny Kravitz is great as Nurse John, but Mo’Nique’s acting chops take the cake.
Some critics aren’t thrilled with the film’s fantasy sequences, which often put Precious on a stage or red carpet in a fancy dress with a dreamy man. While they are a little over-the-top and perhaps too long, I see what the filmmakers were trying to do. This girl must do something to mentally escape from her situation. She chooses to picture herself somewhere else, doing something special.
I was surprised (and somewhat relieved) to learn that the film was not based on a true story, but the themes within it are still completely relevant. The film is dedicated to “Precious girls everywhere,” and it’s hard not to shed a few tears knowing that these girls exist.
The film tackles everything from incest to AIDS, despair to hope. But the one overwhelming message I took with from it was the value of female friendship. Precious is transformed when she has classmates to tease and open up to. She finally has the strength to break through that window and run to safety. She knows no one is going to save her except herself, but she’ll have a little help and support along the way.
Don’t see Precious expecting to leave the theater with anything but a heavy heart, but do see it. Precious’ story deserves to be heard.
