Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire is the story of an overweight, illiterate 16-year-old girl who, pregnant with her second child enrolls at an alternate school to point her life in a new direction. The title character, Precious, played by Gabourey “Gabby” Sidibe in her debut role, leads a troubled life as a teen shackled by sexual, physical and verbal abuse. Her size, teen pregnancy and abusive mother, played to perfection by Mo’Nique, hold her back from reaching her dreams. However, she pushes on… fighting for a better life.
Precious is directed by Lee Daniels, whose directorial debut starred Mo’Nique as a character also called Precious amongst a host of other Hollywood names: Cuba Gooding Jr., Helen Mirren, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Stephen Dorff and Macy Gray. While Shadowboxer had a more commercial edge, Daniels has managed to extract solid performances in both films with his direction more refined in Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire.
This indie film is bolstered by knock-out character performances from Gabourey Sidibe, Mo’Nique and Paula Patton. It’s more Half Nelson than Dangeous Minds when it comes to shock value as Daniels introduces us to Precious and her Harlem existence. It’s harrowing at times and doesn’t try to paint out the kitchen sink when it comes to the hard-hitting reality, in which Precious finds herself. There’s no Hollywood filter to beautify or cover-up the ugliness surrounding Precious and Mo’Nique’s all-or-nothing performance characterises this perspective… always complex, biting and edgy.
Lee Daniels makes some interesting choices with the camera, brave enough to show the underbelly of Harlem and the gritty hard-knock-life of the slums. Precious has Ally McBeal fantasy moments from time-to-time as she tries to leave her body and escape – from red carpets to model shoots accompanied by her cool dream boyfriend. It’s a drama about improving one’s life… one step at a time, however shallow her triumphs may seem. The characters are portrayed with such gusto and their relative anonymity helps push the film onward with a sense of naked truth and unashamed reality.
There are times, where Precious feels a little emotionally manipulative as things go from bad to worse. This degradation perpetuates the downward spiral Precious finds herself in and keeps things hurtling out-of-control. Just as she starts making progress with her reading and writing, she’s put in jeopardy… shifting from an unscripted reality to classic Hollywood formula, but retains its integrity with a rock solid team effort from the ensemble.
This is a ‘day-in-the-life’ film experience that gives you a chance to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes. The journey may not be comforting, but does make you feel grateful for your own good health and relative comfort. If an overweight, pregnant and illiterate girl can push through the sludge of life, then we have no other option but to follow her shining example… and with 6 Oscar nominations in her wake, you just can’t ignore Precious.
The bottom line: Startling.
Screenplay with Spling
Stephen ‘Spling’ Aspeling
www.spling.co.za
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