Movie review by The Afro News Reporter, Ariadne Sawyer,
Precious%201 Review VIFF
MA“Precious “from the novel Push was originally written by African American, poet and writer Sapphire. Skillfully adapted for screen by Damien Paul and directed by the Academy Award Winner Lee Daniels; it is a remarkable film where multigenerational trauma and poverty weave together a hard core tragedy with glimpses of hope. Shown at the Vancouver International Film Festival, this award winning film has received the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at Sundance 2009.
It follows the life of 16 year old Harlem teen “Precious” Jones (played by actress Gabourey Sidibe) who is the victim of sexual and emotional abuse. Treated badly by her classmates, she joins an alternative learning program and finds the support of Ms. Rain (Paula Patton) as well as the welfare counselor aptly played by Mariah Carey.
“Precious” has the ability to escape her painful life and fantasize herself as a superstar. When her abusive mother Mary (Mo’Nique) uses emotional and verbal battering to put her daughter down, Jones uses her into her dream world to go to a safer and happier place.
This gritty hard hitting film portrays the hidden hopes and small acts of kindness through an overlay of profanity and violence.
Research has shown that the effects of slavery and multigenerational trauma, even after many generations has an ongoing effect on many levels.
In my opinion this film is an example of the imprisonment of spirit due to the effects of ongoing trauma and is well worth seeing.
