Directed by Lee Daniels

Starring: Gabourey Sidibe, Mo’Nique, Paula Patton

Rated R for child abuse including sexual assault, and pervasive language

Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire is film centered around Clarice “Precious” Jones, a young African American woman who lives in 1987 Harlem. Precious (played by Gabourey Sidibe) is pregnant with her second child by her own father and still in high school. She is forced into to an alternative school to better her education and all the while being physically and mentally abused by her own mother, Mary (played by Mo’Nique).

Actress Gabourey Sidibe gives a very strong performance and possibly one of the best acting debuts in a film. Sidibe gives a range of performances from happiness to sadness. When we see Precious smiling with her child, we feel happiness knowing she has a feeling she rarely gets to experience. When Precious breaks down and cries, we feel sympathy for the character as this is an emotion most people should not feel. She interacts well with the rest of the cast from Paula Patton to Mariah Carey, who surprisingly gives a great performance as a social worker. For a moment in 2009, it seemed like Gabourey Sidibe was the next big star. Unfortunately, she never got the opportunity to show her acting range as Precious would be her only main starring role.

While I wish I could say Sidibe gives the best performance in the film, Mo’Nique, as Mary, steals the show. While we root for Precious to succeed, we don’t feel any sympathy for her mother. Mary is a mother who emotionally and abuses her underage child and to an extent, her grandchildren. Mo’Nique plays the character as a monster who doesn’t care for the well being of her child. In a scene, Mary asks Precious where she was and why she wasn’t at school. A simple question like this is asked not because she cares for her child, its only asked because she sees Precious as a paycheck. As long as Precious stays in public school, Mary keeps receiving a welfare check. What makes Mary terrifying is that her character is a realistic portrayal of people that actually exist in this world. She is not a villain who is bent on destroying the world or stealing money. She is a villain that lacks remorse when she abuses her child. For her efforts, Mo’Nique won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

It goes without saying that this is a heavy film. The constant abuse and trauma the main character has to go through can be uncomfortable to view. But give credit where credit is due with Geoffrey S. Fletcher’s magnificent writing. Fletcher explores the idea of a neglected young woman wanting to better herself through education and hope. But this screenplay mixes a bit of humor into the film as well. The humor never gets in the way of the story nor is it placed in serious moments. Instead, it is placed where it needs to be, scenes where Precious is not worried about her mother and can relaxed with her friends. Having this humor sprinkled throughout this film certainly eases the film and takes the viewer’s mind off the depressing scenes.

Precious is certainly a film that is uncomfortable to watch. The cast sells the film, in particular its two main stars, Gabourey Sidibe and Mo’Nique. These two are on the opposite ends of a spectrum and give performances of a lifetime. The beginning of the film shows Precious who only dreams about having it all, being rich and famous with a boyfriend. But at the end of the film, we see she doesn’t need all that, instead she has two children that can make her happy. The film ends with the quote, “for precious girls everywhere”, a quote that perfectly fits in the film.

4/4