Watch Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire

Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire is a powerful and heart-wrenching drama film released in 2009. Directed by Lee Daniels, it stars Gabourey Sidibe, Mo'Nique, and Paula Patton in leading roles. The film is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Sapphire and is set in Harlem, New York City. The film follows the life of Claireece "Precious" Jones (Gabourey Sidibe), a 16-year-old African American girl living in poverty in Harlem in 1987. She is obese, illiterate, and has two children by her own father, who raped her. Precious attends an alternative school in hopes of getting an education but struggles with her studies due to her inability to read and write.

Her life takes a dramatic turn when she is impregnated by her father for the second time and is expelled from school due to her pregnancy. Her mother, Mary (Mo'Nique), is also abusive both physically and emotionally. Her mother is jealous of Precious and takes out her frustrations on her with extreme abuse. Precious is told she is worthless, stupid and ugly by her mother and feels like she is trapped in her own life because of her mother's actions.

However, she eventually discovers a way out of her life by enrolling in an alternative school, Each one Teach One. The school is run by a kind and caring teacher Ms. Rain (Paula Patton) who helps Precious learn to read and write. Throughout the film, Precious goes through a transformative journey of self-discovery and self-love as she learns to overcome the obstacles in her path.

The film explores themes of poverty, racial discrimination, sexual abuse, and the impact of a toxic home life. It portrays the realities of the lives of many young people living in extreme poverty in cities like Harlem, who are forced to deal with issues such as abuse, neglect, and addiction from a young age.

Gabourey Sidibe delivers an outstanding performance as Precious, portraying her as a complex and layered character. She manages to convey the pain and suffering Precious has endured through subtle nuances in her performance, making the character all the more realistic and relatable.

Mo'Nique also delivers a brilliant performance as Mary. Her portrayal of a mother who is emotionally and physically abusive towards her daughter is both terrifying and heart-breaking. She delivers a performance that garnered her numerous awards, including an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Paula Patton's portrayal of Ms. Rain is warm and compassionate, and she plays an integral role in Precious' transformation. Her character is a beacon of hope for Precious and serves as a symbol for the positive changes that can occur in someone's life through education and mentorship.

The film's direction by Lee Daniels is powerful and raw. He portrays the story with an unflinching gaze that makes it difficult to watch at times, yet captivating at the same time. The film's visuals are stunning, with the use of close-ups, low angles, and handheld cameras. Daniels captures the raw emotion of the actors and brings the story to life in a way that is both visceral and unflinching.

Overall, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire is a powerful and thought-provoking film that packs an emotional punch. It is a poignant story of hope, resilience, and the power of education in overcoming systemic oppressions. Despite the dark themes explored in the film, it is ultimately a story of survival and redemption that is sure to leave an impact on its viewers.

Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire is a 2008 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 50 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3 and a MetaScore of 78.