← Back to Reviews
in
Precious (Lee Daniels, 2009) -
Powerful, unique film which tells stories in mainstream cinema which have basically been ignored heretofore. The film is about a 16-year-old child whose only concept of self-worth is what she can do for her abusive mother who is actually the better half of her parents since her father is an incestuous serial-rapist who impregnates her with two children. Gabourney Sibide is brilliant as Clareece, the "Precious" of the title, and Mo'Nique matches her as her abusive mother who has no concept of love, whether from a man or for a child. The film is basically heartbreaking, but it's presented in such a way that it's really quite easy for most people to relate to. It has enough violent, confrontational melodrama for me to "enjoy" it on a purely-visceral level, along the lines of Festen or Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, but since it's set in a specific era and location, NYC in 1987, it does have some additional fish to fry.
Part of what makes the film so good is that even though she's been told that she's stupid and worthless from the time that she can understand the words, Precious is actually intelligent and creative and uses her fantasy life to help her get by the horrors of everyday life at her "home". Any "normal" child subjected to her horrors would probably have committed suicide, but Precious basically shuts down in school, although she has a natural affinity for mathematics. One day, when her principal learns that she's gotten pregnant again, she expels her but gives her a second chance by sending her to an alternative school.
I could relate to this film on multiple levels. First off, I teach at an "alternative school". I'm also very overweight, so I'm used to having this feeling that when people see me that they only relate to me on one, cliched level. I guess that's OK because I'm probably guilty of thinking that I should relate to them on only one level too, that of a superficial stick-figure. Precious has at least helped me to look at everybody, student, parent, family and unknown person, as someone who really needs to open their eyes to reality, and if I don't bring this simple message to their attention, who will? Then again, thank God for all those friends and family members I already have who know me quite well and refuse to let me wallow in anything which might resemble self-pity. No matter how awful Precious's life appears, by film's end she has learned to love herself and her children and tries to do all she can to give them a better future.
Powerful, unique film which tells stories in mainstream cinema which have basically been ignored heretofore. The film is about a 16-year-old child whose only concept of self-worth is what she can do for her abusive mother who is actually the better half of her parents since her father is an incestuous serial-rapist who impregnates her with two children. Gabourney Sibide is brilliant as Clareece, the "Precious" of the title, and Mo'Nique matches her as her abusive mother who has no concept of love, whether from a man or for a child. The film is basically heartbreaking, but it's presented in such a way that it's really quite easy for most people to relate to. It has enough violent, confrontational melodrama for me to "enjoy" it on a purely-visceral level, along the lines of Festen or Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, but since it's set in a specific era and location, NYC in 1987, it does have some additional fish to fry.
Part of what makes the film so good is that even though she's been told that she's stupid and worthless from the time that she can understand the words, Precious is actually intelligent and creative and uses her fantasy life to help her get by the horrors of everyday life at her "home". Any "normal" child subjected to her horrors would probably have committed suicide, but Precious basically shuts down in school, although she has a natural affinity for mathematics. One day, when her principal learns that she's gotten pregnant again, she expels her but gives her a second chance by sending her to an alternative school.
I could relate to this film on multiple levels. First off, I teach at an "alternative school". I'm also very overweight, so I'm used to having this feeling that when people see me that they only relate to me on one, cliched level. I guess that's OK because I'm probably guilty of thinking that I should relate to them on only one level too, that of a superficial stick-figure. Precious has at least helped me to look at everybody, student, parent, family and unknown person, as someone who really needs to open their eyes to reality, and if I don't bring this simple message to their attention, who will? Then again, thank God for all those friends and family members I already have who know me quite well and refuse to let me wallow in anything which might resemble self-pity. No matter how awful Precious's life appears, by film's end she has learned to love herself and her children and tries to do all she can to give them a better future.