Precious - AB

4 Stars

Gabourey Sidibe commands the screen as a girl who surmounts great hardship against all odds.

Rating: 14A
Stars: Gabourey Sidibe, Mo’Nique, Paula Patton

What’s the story?
Claireece “Precious” Jones (Sidibe) has known nothing but cruelty her entire life. Abused by her mother (Mo’Nique) and raped by her father, Precious handles the turmoil by imagining she is in a place better than her destitute 1987 neighbourhood of Harlem. When the teenage mother is impregnated by her father for the second time, she is sent to an alternative school in hopes of turning her life around. There, Precious bonds with her new teacher (Patton) and is exposed to the wonders of learning for the first time. But just as life is beginning to improve for Precious, her mother performs her worst act of abuse yet, forcing Precious to take a stand for herself and her children, once and for all.

Why see it?
Based on the acclaimed book, Push: A Novel by Sapphire, Precious is an absolute masterpiece. The film dares to shed light on the desolation of many real lives, providing an unflinching look at the effects of poverty and physical, verbal and sexual abuse. The acting is incredibly believable; in particular, Sidibe and Mo’Nique deliver raw and moving performances. Viewers will not be disappointed.

Problems?
Graphic scenes, profanity and references to sexual, emotional and physical abuse pervade the film and may be offensive to certain viewers. The mature content may be difficult for younger audiences to grasp.

All in all:
An emotional roller-coaster for viewers, but definitely worth watching.