Is Precious Based on a true story?
Precious: Base on Nol by Saf (Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire), or simply Precious, is a 2009 American drama film, directed and co-produced by Lee Daniels. The script was written by Geoffrey S. Fletcher, adapted from the 1996 novel Push by Sapphire.
What happened to precious in the movie Precious?
Precious eats the food in front of mom and breaks into a fantasy of being in an old Italian movie with Sophia Loren in it (since that is what Mary was watching at the time). Precious is at the welfare office (a regular check-in is required) talking to a social worker Mrs. Weiss (an almost unrecognizable Mariah Carey without makeup).
What did Roger Ebert think of the movie Precious?
Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times praised Mo'Nique and Sidibe's performances. Ebert described Mo'Nique's performance as being "frighteningly convincing" and felt that "the film is a tribute to Sidibe's ability to engage our empathy" because she "completely creates the Precious character."
Where was precious filmed?
Filming took place in New York City from October to November 2007. Precious, then without a distributor, premiered to acclaim at both the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, under its original title of Push: Based on the Novel by Sapphire.
Who was the real Precious?
Claireece "Precious" Jones is the main protagonist of both the book, Push by Sapphire and the 2009 film, Precious. She is the daughter of her two antagonist villain parents Carl and Mary Jones. She is portrayed by Gabourey Sidibe.
What was the meaning behind Precious the movie?
Based on the novel “Push” by Sapphire, who drew from her experiences as a reading teacher in Harlem, Precious explores the interior life of what must be one of the universe's most tormented souls: Claireece Precious Jones, an obese, illiterate16-year-old girl from Harlem whose regular abuse at the hands of her father ...
Was Precious pregnant by her father?
Claireece Precious Jones is 16 years old and pregnant with her father's baby. It will be her second child by him; she gave birth to her first – a daughter with Down's syndrome – when she was 12.
How did Precious get pregnant in the movie?
The story is about a sixteen years old, black African American girl called Precious. She is pregnant with her second child from being raped multiple times by her father who used to abuse her since she was three years old. Precious is an example of physical, emotional and sexual abuse.
What mental illness did Precious have?
Dissociative identity disorder is the result of Precious' constant traumatization both, physically and emotionally, since her early childhood. Her desire to escape from the oppressing reality produced the appearance of alternative identities.
What does the red scarf symbolize in Precious?
The red scarf is constantly seen throughout the movie, from the street lamp to being worn around Precious' neck or arm. This is the only color in her life and it is a symbol of hope for her.
Does Mary abuse Precious?
Personality. Mary is the cruel, narcissistic mother of the novel's main character, Precious, whom she subjects to constant verbal, physical and sexual abuse. She turns a blind eye to the sexual abuse Precious suffers at the hands of her father, Carl Jones, because she resents Precious for "stealin' her man".
Who impregnated Precious?
CarlBy 1987, a 16-year-old Claireece "Precious" Jones is impregnated twice by Carl and, when the second pregnancy is discovered, forced to attend a alternative school to continue her education.
Does Precious get a happy ending?
Precious doesn't get a happy ending, but as she heads toward her own death, she can know that a happy ending may be possible for her child. Of course, Precious takes place in 1987.
What abuse did Precious suffer?
sexually abusedClaireece Jones (Gabourey Sidibe), who goes by her middle name, Precious, is a 16-year-old black girl who has been sexually abused and raped by her father since she was three.
How much did Monique make from Precious?
The claims emerged after the Academy Award winner filmed the Lee Daniels-directed Precious. She refused to travel internationally to promote the 2009 film since she would not have been compensated. The comedian says she was only paid $50,000 for her work in the film and Perry vowed to make things right.
How much did the movie Precious make?
The film was a box office success, earning over $63 million on a $10 million budget. Precious received six nominations at the 82nd Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for Daniels, and Best Actress for Sidibe.
What is precious based on?
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire, or simply Precious, is a 2009 American drama film, directed and co-produced by Lee Daniels. Its script was written by Geoffrey S. Fletcher, adapted from the 1996 novel Push by Sapphire. The film stars Gabourey Sidibe, Mo'Nique, Paula Patton, and Mariah Carey.
How much did precious make in 2009?
Precious was given a limited-theatrical release on November 6, 2009, and was originally scheduled to appear on screens only in North America. During its opening weekend, the film earned $1,872,458, which placed twelfth on that weekend's box office list, despite being in only 18 theaters. The film saw a 214 percent increase in its second week of release, earning $5,874,628 at 174 theaters, which catapulted it up to third place in that weekend's box office, with a per-theater average of $33,762. On November 20, 2009, the film received a wider release, showing at 629 theaters (thus tripling the number of theaters showing the film). In its third week, Precious, as studios had previously estimated, placed sixth at the box office, with the revenues estimated $11,008,000—an 87.4% increase from the previous week.
Why did Lee Daniels screen Precious?
The film's director, Lee Daniels, stated that he was initially "embarrassed" to screen Precious at the Cannes Film Festival because he felt that it would show African-Americans in a negative light, due to its content.
When did the movie Precious come out?
Lionsgate gave the film a limited release in North America on November 6, 2009, with an expanded release on November 20. Precious was well-received by critics; the performances of Sidibe and Mo'Nique, the story, and its message were highly praised.
Where does precious live?
In 1987, 16-year-old Claireece "Precious" Jones lives in New York City 's Harlem neighborhood with her unemployed mother, Mary, who has long subjected her to physical and verbal abuse. Precious has also been raped by her now-absent father, Carl, resulting in two pregnancies. The family resides in a Section 8 tenement and survives on welfare. Precious's first child, a daughter named "Mongo" (short for Mongoloid ), has Down syndrome and is being cared for by Precious's grandmother, though Mary forces the family to pretend that Mongo lives with her and Precious so she can receive extra money from the government. When Precious's second pregnancy is discovered, her high-school principal arranges for her to attend an alternative school, where she hopes Precious can change her life's direction. Precious finds a way out of her traumatic daily life by escaping into daydreams in which she is loved and appreciated.
Why was the soundtrack chosen for Precious?
Daniels stated that the artists featured on the film's soundtrack were selected because they "resonate not only in Precious's world, but speak to your soul no matter who you are.". Two other songs, performed decades earlier by Queen Latifah and Mahalia Jackson, were also chosen for the film's soundtrack.
Movie Precious True Story
She does an impromptu version of her dance for my benefit, after which she falls down, grinning, and takes a few deep breaths. “The best thing, though, is that it isn’t actually about me at all.
Sapphire is being interviewed
Sapphire is being interviewed for the first time by a British publication. Sapphire, born Ramona Lofton in Fort Ord and who appears much younger than her 59 years, is a very down-to-earth person. She claims to be bisexual and that her own father, a US army sergeant, sexually molested her when she was eight years old.
Who plays Precious's mother?
It stars first-time actress Gabourey Sidibe, 24, who has been tipped for an Academy Award for her portrayal of Precious, and Mo'Nique, a bawdy comedienne well-known in New York who plays Precious's sadistic mother with consummate ambiguity. There are also supporting roles for Mariah Carey and Lenny Kravitz.
Is the story of the sex abuse of the sex slaves autobiographical?
But the story is not autobiographical, she says.
Is Sapphire on Oprah?
Sapphire, meanwhile, has been surfing her own wave of popularity. She has appeared on Op rah (who was so inspired by the film that she came on board as an executive producer) and every major US TV network (Fox, NBC, CBC) as well as the cover of the New York Times magazine.
Did Sapphire have a happy ending?
There was no great revelation, no feel-good happy ending, although in the 10 years before she died of cancer, we managed to reconcile and partially rebuild our relationship.". In the meantime, Sapphire had started writing and performing poetry, and had begun her first novel.
What is the first story of Precious?
The film’s first story is about Precious herself, a character whose endlessly miserable life is like something out of The Trojan Women: When she’s not getting raped and impregnated by her father, she’s getting sexually, physically, and verbally abused by her mother Mary (Mo’Nique.)
What is the thrust of the precious story?
And that’s the thrust of the “Precious story:” A girl who has no reason to live keeps finding reasons to live. She gets stomped and stomped and stomped, but she still goes to an alternative school that will help her learn to read and write; she still does sweet things for her baby; and she still tries to make friends.
Why are the scenes in The Precious stirring?
These scenes are stirring because they show us the Precious that wants to be born. Buried inside her miserable life, there’s a sweet, thoughtful, poetic young woman, and when the movie cuts back to the world where she’s forced to live, the brief vision of her imagination has made her reality even harder to watch.
Who plays Blu Rain in Precious?
To paraphrase Roger Ebert’s review, the film’s hope comes from alternative school teacher Blu Rain (Paula Patton) and from social worker Mrs. Weiss (Mariah Carey), both of whom see Precious’ terrible life and want to help her. Advertisement.
Does precious die in Slumdog Millionaire?
But this isn’t Slumdog Millionaire. At the climax of the film, we learn that Precious’s father has died of HIV. Her baby doesn’t have it, but Precious does. So for all her imagination and spark, Precious is going to die. (For a poor black woman in Harlem in 1987, HIV was a death sentence.)
Storyline
In Harlem, 1987. Sixteen year old Claireece Jones - who goes by her middle name Precious - is illiterate and overweight. She is pregnant with her second child, both children fathered by her biological father, who has continually raped her since she was a child, but who she doesn't see otherwise.
Did you know
Mo'Nique accepted her role to raise awareness of sexual abuse. A confessed victim of incest herself, the actress had great reservations about playing the part, but ultimately found the experience therapeutic.
Overview
Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire, or simply Precious, is a 2009 American drama film, directed and co-produced by Lee Daniels. Its script was written by Geoffrey S. Fletcher, adapted from the 1996 novel Push by Sapphire. The film stars Gabourey Sidibe, Mo'Nique, Paula Patton, and Mariah Carey. This marked the acting debut of Sidibe, who portrays a young woman struggling against poverty and abuse. Filming took place in New York City from October to Nove…
Plot
In 1987, 16-year-old Claireece "Precious" Jones lives in New York City's Harlem neighborhood with her unemployed mother, Mary, who has long subjected her to physical and verbal abuse. Precious has also been raped by her now-absent father, Carl, resulting in two pregnancies. The family resides in a Section 8 tenement and survives on welfare. Precious's first child, a daughter named "Mongo" (short for Mongoloid), has Down syndrome and is being cared for by Precious's grandmo…
Cast
• Gabourey Sidibe as Claireece "Precious" Jones. The film's casting director, Billy Hopkins, found her at an open-call audition held at New York City's Lehman College. Sidibe was chosen over 300 others who auditioned in nationwide casting calls and had no prior acting experience.
• Mo'Nique as Mary Lee Johnston, Precious' unemployed, profane, and abusive mother. Mo'Nique and Daniels had previously worked together in Shadowboxer (in which her character was named Precious). I…
Production
Daniels had said that he was attracted to the initial novel based on how "raw and honest" it felt. In an interview with AMC he noted that reading the book brought back a memory from his childhood of a young abused girl who knocked on his family's door, claiming that her mom was going to kill her. Daniels recalls that the incident was the first time he saw his mother frightened, specifically noting the helplessness of the situation, and stating "she knew that she'd have to send this little …
Music
Lionsgate, in association with Matriarch/Geffen Records released the soundtrack online as a digital download on November 3, 2009, and in stores on November 23. Daniels confirmed that Mary J. Blige's "I Can See in Color" song will be released as a single from the soundtrack. The song was written by Blige, Raphael Saadiq and LaNeah Menzies and is produced by Raphael Saadiq. The soundtrack consists of various artists (Labelle, Donna Allen, Jean Carn, Sunny Gale…
Release
Precious was screened during the 2009 Sundance Film Festival from January 15, 2009, until January 25 in Park City, Utah. At Sundance, Precious was listed under its original title of Push: Based On The Novel By Sapphire; however, the title was later altered to avoid confusion with another 2009 film entitled Push. Precious appeared in the Un Certain Regard, an award section recognising unique and in…
Reception
Precious received favorable reviews from film critics, particularly for Sidibe's and Mo'Nique's performances. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 92% of 238 critics gave the film a positive review, with a rating average of 7.80/10. The site's consensus is that "Precious is a grim yet ultimately triumphant film about abuse and inner-city life, largely bolstered by exceptiona…
See also
• Cinema of the United States
• List of American films of 2009