Movie - Often touted around the less respectable media (not us of course) as the film in which Mariah Carey gives a decent performance without make-up (shock-horror), Precious is much more than publicity stunt casting.
Based on the novel Push by Sapphire, Clareece 'Precious' Jones is 16, obese, abused, illiterate and pregnant by her father for the second time. When she is excluded from her school 'Precious' joins an alternative educational instition "Each one, teach one" despite her mother's protestations that she should "get down the welfare". Precious is taught to read and write which allow her to express her anger and fear in a journal. She meets people who support her and encourage her to rebuild her life, despite what seems like a never-ending stream of tragedy.
It is this vein of hope which prevents Precious from becoming a cryfest-movie of the week script. But it is the stunning performances which keep you glued to your seat when another part of your head is telling you to run away. Gabourey Sidibe debuts in what must be the most unglamorous role of the year. She holds back on the emotion, except in fantasy moments, as she escapes torment by imagining fame and talent, or in the one instance she cries which shoots straight to the heart. Mo'Nique is terrifying as her abusive mother. There were audible cries of fear from the audience as she charged up the stairs after her daughter, or when she purposely dropped a new born baby. the supporting characters are also well cast, and credit to director Lee Daniels for choosing a trusted ensemble, most of which he worked with before.
Speaking of audience reaction - the screening I attended produced a variety of reactions - probably because the film itself is a recipe of hope, despair, tragedy, comedy, reality and fantasy all blended up at once, and it's down to your tastes which flavour you get. On my right was a lady crying throughout, to the left another watched between gaps in her fingers. Two black women walked out halfway through saying it was racist because it portrayed black people in a bad light. I was the one laughing in places that nobody else was (well I usually am).
The fear and sadness I have already spoken about. In terms of racism, it's a point that only a couple of New York publications have picked up on form largely positive reviews. I didn't feel that abusers did what they did because they were black, or New Yorkers, or a certain age - there is a final confrontation between Precious and her mother which sums up their motivations perfectly, but then you have to watch the entire film to discover this, which these ladies did not. Still, I'm not a black woman.
The humour is killer. Dark as anything - such as getting the words "insects" and "incest" mixed up. Precious's first child has Down's Syndrome, so was named Mongo (short for Mongoloid). It's not necessarily funny, but appeals to the absurd part of the brain that shouts - "this can't be real, it must all be a joke!"
And for the gay angle - we're the good guys - hurray! Yes a movie where sexuality isn't an issue, just present, and what's more it's a lesbian couple that give Precious her first "home". Precious is initially shocked to be living with "real life lesbians," but observes that her mother was wrong when she thought gay people sinners: "homosexuals aren't the ones who beat me, who raped me".
It might not sound like a tempting ordeal to put yourself through, and sure, it isn't a date movie, but I'm very glad I went to see it and left with a sense of optimism and gratitude.
Precious is on general release 29th January 2010.
