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

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=” 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.

ahref=” Sexual Abuse & Eating Disorders</a> Published on December 28, 2009 by Susan Albers, Psy.D.inComfort 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
Nominated
Oscar / Best Motion Picture of the Year
Lee Daniels
Sarah Siegel-Magness
Gary Magness
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
GaboureySidibe
Best Achievement in Directing
Lee Daniels
Best Achievement in Film Editing
Joe Klotz