Precious

I had been a bit hesitant on watching Precious.. when it was first released for a few reasons: first because my co-worker had already spoiled it for me, secondly because I didn't think it would match up to the hype it was given, and most importantly because I wasn't sure that I could handle the gruesomeness in it.  But given that there was nothing that really caught my attention at the theater this weekend, I decided to watch it... and while I can't classify it as a 'great' movie because that is not the category I would place it in, it was a great depiction of  the sometimes overlooked abuse that exists in our humanity, and it depicts the suffering and hardships that some abused children are sadly and unfortunately succumbed to. 

Precious is based on the novel Push by Sapphire and executive-produced by Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, who came on board after its screening at Sundance. The film is set in late 80s Harlem, where 16-year-old Claireece Precious Jones (Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe) is facing more hardships than it seems one person should ever endure. Her mother Mary (Mo'Nique) physically and emotionally abuses her and she's pregnant by her drug addict father for the second time. She's illiterate and mostly quiet (at first), but has an elaborate inner life the film portrays in fantasy sequences. When Precious is threatened with expulsion because she's pregnant she's offered the chance to transfer to an alternative school. Her new teacher, Blu Rain (Paula Patton), and Mrs. Weiss (Mariah Carey), a social worker, help Precious begin to deal with the abuse she's suffering.

 

 

and that is all I am going to tell you about Precious... If you decide to watch it, I would recommend not reading too much into it, watch it as it is, putting any  preconceived  notions of the book, or movie aside..and have a box of tissues handy...Precious was poignant, very raw, and horrific at times..it demonstrates humanity stripped down to its worst moments flashing you behind locked doors, but it is also humanity lifted to its best moments of perseverance, resilience, hope, and faith.

If you've watched Precious or read the book Push, what are your thoughts on it? 

Fondly Yours,