Precious
Written by: Paul Antrobus
On paper Precious sounds like the worst kind of TV movie of the week – the inspirational story of a poverty stricken mother triumphing over the odds and making something of her life. Produced by Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry. With Mariah Carey playing ‘concerned social worker’. Blah blah blah.
Harlem in the mid 80s. Clareece ‘Precious’ Jones is overweight, borderline illiterate and pregnant with her second child. Both are by her father. Living at home with her abusive mother Precious is expelled from school and forced into the Each One Teach One program where it is hoped she will change the direction her life is going. Here she meets one of those inspirational teachers every American movie about school seems to have, and gradually starts to reconnect with society. However Fate has one final, cruel blow for her…
Based on the novel ‘Push’ by the poet Sapphire, Precious does not make easy viewing. It’s hard to think of another protagonist who has as much crap dumped on them. The abuse and trauma she suffers initially make it hard to like the film but gradually you warm to it, as Precious slowly starts to take control of her life.
The acting is flawless throughout – both Gabourey Sidibe in the title role and comedienne Mo’Nique as her monstrous mother both deserve all the awards that will surely come their way. In a smaller role, as a disinterested and then horrified social worker, Mariah Carey is a revelation. A scene towards the end of the movie where she forces Mo’Nique to admit to all the abuse she has allowed to occur is stunning – you are repulsed yet at the same time can almost understand why she did it.
The film is peppered with Precious’ fantasies: when her father rapes her, she imagines herself in a music video, a star everyone wants to know; when she looks in the mirror, a thinn white girls looks back. This is her inner life, the girl she wants to be and it’s these moments that leaven the misery around her.
If film is about showing you lives you would not normally see then Precious gets an A+.
Precious is out this Friday
Paul Antrobus
Tags: Mariah Carey, Precious
Posted in Film & TV |
