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SYNOPSIS: Precious
may sometimes be down, but she is never out. Beneath her impassive
expression is a watchful, curious young woman with an inchoate
but unshakeable sense that other possibilities exist for her.
Threatened with expulsion, Precious is offered the chance
to transfer to an alternative school, Each One/Teach One.
Precious doesn’t know the meaning of “alternative,” but her
instincts tell her this is the chance she has been waiting
for. In the literacy workshop taught by the patient yet firm
Ms. Rain (Paula Patton), Precious begins a journey that will
lead her from darkness, pain and powerlessness to light, love
and self-determination.
MOVIE
REVIEW:
“Precious” is the kind of film that you know after watching is bound for some attention come Oscar time- which of course, it did, and hence its theatrical release in Singapore more than a year late. An adaptation of the novel “Push” by Sapphire, it is the true story of obese and illiterate Claireece “Precious” Jones (newcomer Gabourey Sidibe), a 16-year-old black teenager living in Harlem who has been raped and impregnated twice by her father. To add insult to injury, her mother both physically and verbally abuses her- just the depth of the furrows on her brow is enough to tell her that she isn’t a happy child.
The same can be said of the film, which this reviewer would caution against watching if you need something to cheer you up. Indeed, while there are hints of optimism especially towards the end of the film, you’ll have to get through the harrowing and distressing first half of the movie. It is not easy to watch, because director Lee Daniels has captured a slice of reality so real that it is painful to watch, even more so with the knowledge that it is in fact an accurate and authentic portrayal of what someone had to go through.
Besides her abusive parents, Precious has to contend with a first child suffering from Down Syndrome, cared for by her grandmother, and expulsion from school when she is found pregnant with her second child. Later on, when her father dies of AIDS, Precious will also discover that she is HIV positive no thanks to her father. What can Precious possibly live for, you ask? Why has life dealt her such an unlucky hand? Unfortunately, we don’t get to choose the way or the family we are born into, and it seems Precious has been given an extremely short end of the stick.
Still, one can take heart in the people she meets who out of their goodwill help her along the best they can- her new teacher Blu Rain (Paula Patton) who takes it upon herself to help Precious to read; the social worker Miss Weiss (Mariah Carey) who takes a personal interest to her case; and even a nursing assistant John McFadden (Lenny Kravitz) at the hospital she is sent to after she is abused by her mother. These people are what our humanity is about, reaching out to the less fortunate within our society and giving voice to the voiceless. Thanks to them, our indignation at her plight is replaced somewhat by a sense of assurance that there is still goodness in the world.
The fact that “Precious” as a film can invoke so poignant emotions is testament to its power and its brilliance, particularly to director Lee Daniels for coaxing strong performances from Gabourey Sidibe and Oscar winner Mo’nique (who plays Precious’ mother). It mustn’t have been easy channelling such powerful emotions, and kudos to the excellent cast for bringing to life a tale that while disturbing deserves to be told and heard.
So don’t expect an easy film- “Precious” is definitely not a simple film to watch, not because it isn’t good but because it’s so good that it cuts so painfully close to reality. The greater horror is that there are probably families out there, “Precious-es” out there who are suffering the same fate, perhaps worse. Will they find hope and a way out of their present lives? Some may, and I suspect many others will not- and that is precisely why “Precious” is also an important film, for it opens our eyes to the injustices of the world, and forces us to look around at the people within our midst who are waiting for us to reach out and lend a helping hand.
SPECIAL FEATURES :
NIL.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
The Dolby Digital 2.0 audio will suffice for this talky film- dialogues are delivered crisply and distinctly. Visuals are clear and nicely contrasted especially during the darker scenes of the film.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD
RATING :
Review
by Gabriel Chong
Posted on 17 October 2010
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