Notes for Precious
I know this girl. I know her in my family, I know her in my friends, I've seen her,
I've lived beside this girl. . . . I didn't want to be friends with those girls because
they had too much drama going on in their lives. I feel guilty for having ignored
them". In interview with Roger Ebert http://www.rogerebert.com/interviews/forgabourey-sidibe-precious-is-a-fantasy-come-to-life
ndeed, if Precious has a crucial flaw, it is that it is at once too bleak and too
hopeful in its closing scenes: too bleak in the history it unearths, and too hopeful
that the mere fact of the unearthing will make the history go away. The film is
famously executive-produced by Oprah Winfrey (along with Tyler Perry), and its
conclusion seems the apotheosis of Oprah-ism: Precious has had her
breakthrough--and that, we’re essentially told, is enough for a happy ending.
Don’t worry about the fact that she is still an HIV-positive, teenage single mother
of two with a remedial education and no obvious path to self-sufficiency. The
therapeutic hurdle has been overcome, so the rest will follow. It’s a lesson that
may hold true if you’re a multimillionaire TV icon, but a rather dicier proposition
for someone in Precious’s circumstances.
<a href=”http://www.newrepublic.com/article/politics/the-movie-review-precious”>
The Movie Review: ‘Precious’</a> by Chirstopher Orr, The New Republic,
November 13, 2009
Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire
Mary’s mother takes care Precious’ daughter allowing Precious to go to a typical
urban school in which the teachers are ineffective and the students misbehave. But
Precious is expelled because she’s pregnant again, and this starts to get to the real
problem between Mary and her daughter. Both of Precious’ pregnancies occurred
when her father, Mary’s boyfriend, raped her. The abuse began when Precious was
three years old.
It’s Mary’s inability to face her own feelings of guilt that she didn’t protect her
daughter and that she accepted her boyfriend’s actions that cause her to treat
Precious so poorly.
Teachers who show this film should tell classes that since the film was made, the
social welfare system has changed and that the social workers and the police act
quickly to protect children when there are substantiated incidents of child abuse.
Mary’s mother would have been required to exclude the father from the household
and he would have been arrested and prosecuted for raping Precious. This can be
done through a comment by the teacher or by using discussion question #1.
Rationale: This engrossing film will present lessons about childhood sexual abuse in
strong and emotional ways.
Benefits: Children will become aware that sexual abuse is not the fault of the child
and that there is a way out.
<a href=”
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/co
mfort-cravings/200912/precious-sexualabuse-eating-disorders”> Precious,
Sexual Abuse & Eating Disorders</a>
Published on December 28, 2009 by Susan
Albers, Psy.D. in Comfort Cravings in
Psychology Today.
Why did Mary, Precious’ mother, treat her daughter so poorly. A good discussion
will include two points. First, Mary was unable to face her own guilt for not having
protected Precious. It was easier to hate Precious than it was to hate herself.
What do you think will happen to Precious the day after the movie ends? The month
after, the year after, five years after.
Possible Problems: The theme of the film is sexual abuse of a minor. It contains a
non-graphic scene of the rape of a child by her father and repeated references to
sexual abuse. There are several incidents of physical abuse of a child and fighting
among students. The mother attempts to kill Precious or her baby by dropping a
television on them. There is substantial profanity.
Why does Mary through the TV – it’s the most iimportant thing to her; Why would
Precious go back to the home;
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting
Role
Mo'Nique
Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay
Geoffrey Fletcher
Geoffrey Fletcher became the first African American to win a
Best Screenplay Oscar (Original or ... More
Best Motion Picture of the Year
Lee Daniels
Sarah Siegel-Magness
Gary Magness
Nominated
Oscar
Best Performance by an Actress
in a Leading Role
Gabourey Sidibe
Best Achievement in Directing
Lee Daniels
Best Achievement in Film
Editing
Joe Klotz