Precious

The movie Precious has irony in the film from the beginning. "Precious" the main character in the film leads  more than just a sad existence and the irony of her mother calling her such a name will only be evident upon watching the film as Precious's mother certainly doesn't  treat her accordingly.

To sum up the film in a few words this story is about Precious's life over a couple of months in the late 1980's. We follow Precious throughout her daily routine which is enough to to give us an understanding of the odds this girl is up against. Precious is illiterate and we are given a segue into this with the opening titles posted in "red" and written in a type of phonetic language clearly of someone who hasn't had the opportunity to learn to read and write. Precious is pregnant with her second child from her father and the first live's with her grandmother and is used by Precious's mother to access more welfare (another glimpse into the psyche of this miserable example of a mother!). Precious is basically resuced by a caring school counsillor who give's her the details of an alternative school where she can learn the basic's. Precious meets an inspiring and altruistic teacher that help's her begin to realise some potential.  We see Precious begin to blossom with new found language skills and friend's amidst the constant phsyical and verbal abuse inflicted by her mother which begins to increase as Precious's mother begins fear losing control of her daughter. There are also a few surprise performances by Mariah Carey who is virtually unrecognisable as Precious's welfare contact and Lenny Kravitz (more recognisable!) play's the kind hospital orderly in the ward where Precious give's birth to her second child.

The film has does have a sting in it's tail as we just begin to come to terms with Precious's unfortunate life and her gradual transformation she receives news of her father's death which bring's a death sentence for herself and her child.  To soften this blow we see Precious gain total independance from her mother when she moves out with her child. Precious displays a determination unlike her Mother's to give her children a better life then she's had and to break the chain of abuse. She treats her own children as "precious" unlike her own mother. Towards the end of the film we are given a brief insight into Precious's mother's equally unfortunate life and we are told of a woman who is confronted with an abusive partner and lacks the self-esteem to do anything about her and her child's circumstances.

Oprah Winfrey produced this gritty film and it leaves you with the hope that other girl's out there like Precious will meet a someone who cares enough to help change their lives.