PRECIOUS- ‘the teenager who made a come-back’.

PRECIOUS- ‘the teenager who made a come-back’.


I chose to review the movie Precious starring Gabourey Sidibe, Lenny Kravitz, Paula Patterson, and Mo’Nique, written by Geoffrey Fletcher, directed by Lee Daniels based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire.” In the movie "Precious" Claireece Precious Jones is portrayed as an obese, illiterate, black 16-year-old teen that is pregnant by her father with her second child. Most girls and women have experienced some kind to gender discrimination while growing up, and will acknowledge that this possible took place either at school, our in their community. Precious endures many hardships in her young life such as, constant physical and mental abuse daily by her peers in her neighborhood, her mother, and repeated rapes by her father. The story supposedly took place in 1987 in Harlem, in New York City. I was able to draw a few connections between this story and the narrator of ‘The World and What’s Wrong’, when she says, “You can choose to let others control your life, or you can choose to believe in your power to make a difference. When someone gives you that you’re worth-nothing look, you should return it with a smile instead of the same (Goldwasser 231). In the story she resides in a rundown apartment and the family survives on welfare. Her first child, has Down Syndrome and is being cared for by Precious's grandmother. Grandmother’s raring baby for young girls is nothing new; this has being happing from generations back. As females we appear to be the best choice for the narrator’s voice, because many of us has gone through the same emotions that Precious went through, so we might find ourselves thinking before we come to a conclusion. Precious felt overpowered by father throughout her story, and thought she had to continue to have sex with him. She experiences rejection by her mother and hates herself for not being able to stand up to both of her parents. However there became a point in the movie when Precious’ mother felt intimidated by her sudden forthright behavior after she had visited the social worker who assured and encouraged Precious to stand up to her mom. At that point the sharp gaze of her eyes showed that she had overcome her fears and was willing to accept whatever consequences resulted thereafter.
During Precious’ second pregnancy, she is suspended from her junior high school and is referred to an alternative school by the principal. “I do know that there are a lot of things thrown at teenage girls these days. Like the media. They tell us we have to be a size zero, and what do even the prettiest of women promise us we can look forward?” (Goldwasser 230). Reporters who go around gathering information for media most times will highlight the minorities in urban areas, but one should remember that girls in all races, and socio- economic status experience and live similar circumstances. It is my believe that the reporters do not take the time to go into the rural areas to get their information/ stories, because ‘juicy information sells faster’.
“As girls mature into young women and enter adolescence, the physical changes of teen hood accelerate them into awareness of the body as a site of sexuality” (Lipkin 2). Like the ‘Maury’ show aired on television, we see similar stories daily, about girls having sex or baby with their, father, step-father, uncle, best friend’s husband or boyfriend even their neighbor. Precious is a true to life story that the public needed to know about. Many young girls are faced with similar situations daily. Like many teen girls in her mind she envisions another world, one in which, she is loved and appreciated. Precious uses imagination and fantasy and sees herself in music videos; believing she is a superstar and thus strive for the attention. She looks at photo albums, and imagines the pictures are her. When she looks in the mirror, she sees the image of a pretty, white, thin, blonde girl, and in her mind she envisions another world, one in which she is loved and appreciated.
Several teenagers experience the same faith. In many cases it is not that they are ‘bad’ or stupid, but it is mainly due to the lack of guidance. I truly admired her love for her children, despite the verbal and physical abuse she underwent by her mother; she managed to remain faithful and respectful. Her mother never offered compassion or words of encouragement. Instead precious was belittled with name calling, slapped around physically and would be reminded at all times that she did not have the looks, body or ability to make it in the real world. The only independence Precious had with her family was the key to the apartment door, and even so her mom complained about her hours of coming and going.
Throughout the entire movie all Precious strived for was LOVE, yet she remarked that “Love makes me feel worthless.” I think the ending is kind of a new beginning to another teenagers’ stride for acceptance. After hearing Precious’ struggles, I am surprise she did not commit suicide, due to feeling ashamed of herself. I was pleased to see her quick halt in realizing, ‘that she can rid herself of all the emotions, and fears she had built up inside of her’. Her strength was taking her tragedy and turning it into her success story. The movie ‘Precious ‘has shown many young people both males and females how one can break away from a destructive settings and become, ‘the unsuspected’. To me that’s a real success in life! Like the saying goes ‘if you can think it you can achieve it’. All Precious needed was love and some words of encouragement.

Here is a sneak peek at a part of the movie. Enjoy! http://www.moviefone.com/movie/precious/31794/video/precious-based-on-a-novel-by-sapphire/23765163001

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