Review: 'Precious' Brings Inspiration Through Tears

           

              Claireece ‘Precious’ Jones, played by debuting actress, Gabourey ‘Gabby’ Sidibe, is a 350-pound illiterate girl from Harlem who is sexually and physically abused by both her mother and father. Her father raping her produces one autistic child and one baby on the way.

 

              "Sometimes, I wish I wasn’t alive," Precious says. "But I don't know how to die. Ain't no plug to pull out. And no matter how bad I feel my heart don't stop beating and my eyes open in the morning."

 

              Lee Daniels, who directed "Monster's Ball" and "Shadowboxer," was able to paint a picture of the words from Sapphire’s novel "Push" and bring them to life. The character Precious was comprised from various personality traits and experiences of women who Sapphire knew, or had met in her life.

 

              The film’s scenes capture the existence of 1987’s Harlem neighborhoods, which is where Precious and her mother, Mary Jones, played by comedian Mo’nique, reside. Mo’nique delivers an outstanding performance that led to an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. The walls of their darkly lit home are witnesses of vicious fights, hurtful phrases, sexual abuse and long days of never-ending tears. These tragic incidents leave the audience in varying degrees of astonishment and anger, but despite all the horrific moments she endures, Precious often escapes to a fantasy world where she imagines herself to be a fabulous superstar accompanied by her dream guy.  

 

              Doing what she’s told, Precious tries to obtain welfare and gets into the presence of Ms. Weiss, played by singer, Mariah Carey, who becomes an important factor in helping to change her life for the better.

 

              Fortunately, great things do happen in this world of calamity when Precious meets Blu Rain, played by actress Paula Patton, a caring teacher working at an alternative school called “Each One, Teach One” that Precious attends after being kicked out of her previous school because of her pregnancy. Ms. Rain and her students become a support system for Precious and help her to overcome her illiteracy by giving her a journal to document in and helping her to learn how to read.

 

              The most memorable scene is when Precious gives birth to her second child Abdul and returns home to her mother whose heart is full of hatred and incites a physical altercation that places Precious and her newborn in mortal danger. This moment was her breakthrough when Precious realizes that she has to leave her house for the safety of  both herself and her children.

 

              In a meeting with Ms. Weiss at the end of the film, Mo’nique proves her acting talents in a performance that reaches out to the hearts of the audience. Precious makes a heartbreaking discovery of why her mother abused her for so many years.

 

             Premiering in 18 theaters and profiting $1.8 million in the first week, “Precious" has had people walking away with a deeper compassion of life, an open heart, and a greater appreciation of the trials of life. Without question, Sidibie’s character has become the example of inspirational.