Precious (Based on the novel Push by Sapphire) - BC

4 stars

No matter how difficult, life is precious.

Rating: 14A
Stars: Gabourey Sidibe, Mo'Nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey

What’s the story?
Sixteen years old and pregnant with her second child, Claireece “Precious” Jones (Gabourey Sidibe) struggles to make it through each day. Overweight and illiterate, battered by an abusive mother (Mo’Nique) and molested by an HIV positive father, Precious moves to an alternative school in hopes that she’ll receive her high-school diploma. With the support of her nurturing teacher Ms. Rain (Paula Patton), Precious rallies against the chains of poverty and abuse to show us that life, no matter how difficult, is meaningful.

Why see it?
Precious wows due to the dramatic strength brought by each actor. Golden Globe winner Mo’Nique’s performance as Precious’ violent irrational mother is raw and disturbing while Sidibe brings to Precious a documentary-like believability that invokes empathy and admiration. Mariah Carey is convincing and nearly unrecognizable as a concerned social worker and proves that she has the ability to pull off a serious role. Director Lee Daniels and producer Oprah Winfrey have drawn together a riveting film that is definitely in for a busy award season.

Problems?
Precious is not an easy film to sit through. It is difficult to stomach the constant stream of profanity, incest and abuse unleashed on Precious, and those easily upset by this may find the movie too disturbing. Precious’ circumstances are relentless and heart wrenching; she never catches a break. Although the movie is meant to be realistic, at times it is almost too painful to watch.

All in all:
A gritty, merciless portrait of a girl who is down, but never out.