PRECIOUS

Strong acting in drama of anger, pain and hope. (Review by Billy Suter, courtesy of The Mercury)

Nominated for this year’s Best Picture Oscar, as well as for the truly memorable performances of its lead and supporting actress, and also the direction of Lee Daniels, Precious is a vibrant, honest and, ultimately, resoundingly hopeful film about pain, anger and yearning for love. It is often a hard film to watch, grittily realistic and at times intensely moving, but a perfect homage to the tenacity of the human spirit, the capacity to grow, overcome tremendous obstacles and discover one’s own worth.

Based on the novel Push by US performance poet Sapphire, it opens in Harlem in 1987, and revolves around the unsmiling, taciturn Claireece “Precious” Jones (Gabourey Sidibe), an obese 16-year-old African-American with a world of woes. She is pregnant for the second time by her absent father; and at home, she must slave away for a volatile, foul-mouthed and unpredictable mother, Mary (a sensational Mo’Nique), whose poisonous angry sees her continually abuse her daughter both emotionally and physically. School is a place of chaos, and Precious has reached the ninth grade with good marks and an awful secret: she can neither read nor write.

However, beneath her impassive expression is a watchful, curious young woman with an unshakeable sense that other possibilities exist for her. These possibilities start to slowly present themselves when Precious enrols at an alternative school, Each One Teach One, where, under the tutelage of an empathetic teacher (Paula Patton) she receives both intellectual and emotional sustenance.

Some 400 actresses were seen over four-and-a-half months before 24-year-old Sidibe, who had previously done only college performances, was chosen for the role of Precious.

Daniels’s direction is emotional, realistic and imaginative, his flits into fantasy sequences – red carpet strolls and photo shoots, depicting Precious turning to her imagination in traumatic moments – being particularly inspired and effective. The director has also embroidered on some of the smaller characters in the book, among them amiable medic Nurse John (rocker Lenny Kravitz in a nicely understated performance) and acerbic school receptionist Cornrows (Sherri Shepherd). The film also features pop diva Mariah Carey in an impressive role as a dowdy social worker who strives to uncover the truth about Precious’s troubled home life. Interestingly, Carey’s part was originally filled by Oscar-winner Helen Mirren, who had to withdraw due to another commitment.

Precious was the breakout hit of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, garnering three awards, including the top award, the Grand Jury Prize, the Audience Award and a Special Acting Award for Mo’Nique. Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry are executive producers and Mary J Blige wrote and recorded a new song for the film, I Can See in Colour.

The film, which won Oscars for M'Onique and adapted screenplay, comes highly recommended. Rating 9/10 – Billy Suter