Precious

Precious

Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire is a 2009 American drama film directed by Lee Daniels, adapted from the 1996 Sapphire novel Push. The film premiered in January 2009 at the Sundance Film Festival as Push: Based On The Novel By Sapphire, where it won the Audience Award and the Grand Jury Prize for best drama, as well as a Special Jury Prize for supporting actress Mo’Nique.

Obese, illiterate 16-year-old Clareece Precious Jones (Gabourey Sidibe) lives in the New York City neighborhood of Harlem with her dysfunctional family during the mid-1980’s; she has been impregnated twice by her father, Carl, and is in a destructive and physically abusive relationship with her mother, Mary (Mo’Nique). After a visit from her high school social worker, Mrs. Weiss (Mariah Carey), Precious is invited to an alternative school where she hopes that her life can change direction.

In February 2009, Tyler Perry announced that he and Oprah Winfrey would be providing promotional assistance to have the film released through Lionsgate Entertainment. The film’s title was changed at this time to Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire to avoid confusion with the 2009 action film Push.

Due to the mature subject matter of the film, it was rated “R” by the MPAA in the United States for “child abuse including sexual assault, and pervasive language.”