Psychological analysis of precious, the movie researchomatic. Push, now known as the book that inspired last years muchrenowned hit film precious, is the firstperson account of the teenage life of claireece precious jones, a harlem teenager who as of writing this account has given birth to two children, a boy and a girl, both products of her rape at the hands of her biological father. I saw the movie precious and saw an interview with the author of this book that the movie was based on. This is the first of two posts about the movie precious. Precious lives in the new york ghetto harlem and they survive on welfare since the mother faces unemployment.
Nov 06, 2009 an unstated but selfevident moral of precious, set during ronald reagans presidency and based on a book published in the year of bill clintons welfare reform, is that government can. Filmmaker lee daniels does a fine job in directing this rather troubling story. Push by sapphire share book recommendations with your. Weiss an almost unrecognizable mariah carey without makeup. Inside her lives a great hurt, and also her child, conceived in a rape. Based on the novel push by sapphire may be the worstfeeling feelgood story. Precious, the movie, which is based on push, the novel, irritates some african americans who say the harsh portrayal of one teenagers life. How author created film character precious through her own sexual abuse. The kid is the sequel to sapphires 1996 novel push, about a girl called precious who is routinely sexually abused by both her mother and father. Precious is groundbreaking and deserves to be seen. Originally called push but recently renamed precious to coincide with the film, the book, by the writer known simply as sapphire, tells the story of a darkskinned, heavyset, illiterate africanamerican girl who has survived multiple pregnancies by her father.
Based on the novel push by sapphire that is the starting point for precious, a great american film that somehow finds an authentic way to move from these beginnings to an inspiring ending. Precious, the movie, which is based on push, the novel, irritates some africanamericans who say the harsh portrayal of one teenagers life. Based on the novel push by sapphire because it told me two moving stories at once. Precious struggles to put together the word day, cut to flashback of mary calling precious a dumb bitch. Aspects of the story help illuminate many of the reasons emotional, physical, and particularly sexual abuse, are risk. Rain asks precious to read a page of childrens book. Yet the movie is not neutral on the subject of race and the prejudices that swirl around it, even in the supposedly postracial age of obama.
Hivpositive teenage protagonist of the 1996 book push and the 2009 movie precious, is an irrepressible character. Rain is a homo, a group that mary told her were dangerous, and starts learning to read. Sapphire, author of the novel push, talks about writing the book and the making of the film. Oct 25, 2009 yet the movie is not neutral on the subject of race and the prejudices that swirl around it, even in the supposedly postracial age of obama.
Based on the novel push by sapphire critics consensus. How author created film character precious through her own. Jul, 2017 sapphire interviewed about new book, the kid, and child abuse. Sapphire interviewed about new book, the kid, and child abuse. Based on the novel push by sapphire movie script by geoffrey fletcher on.
Based on the novel push by sapphire t his movie has arrived heralded by voices of acclaim, not raised in celebration but weirdly lowered. Precious stays after class because of the fight, and ms. I found myself rooting for precious, caring for her, right away. Impressions based on the hype for the movie precious based.
Winner of the grand jury prize at the 2009 sundance film festival, precious. The movie precious is based on the adaptation of the book push written by sapphire. The movie is set in 1987, and i dont think there was a theater back then whose marquee could. Based on the novel push by sapphire critics consensus precious is a grim yet ultimately triumphant film about abuse and innercity life, largely bolstered by exceptional performances. Mary does nothing but smoke, watch television and collect welfare through fraud as she doesnt ever look for a job and believes that education does nothing for precious, who she would rather also collect welfare if only to bring money into the household. Discussion guide developed by heartland truly moving. The movie is based on the novel push by sapphire albers, 2009. Precious is at the welfare office a regular checkin is required talking to a social worker mrs. Precious can be easily analyzed using basic motivation and emotion theories in psychology. The movie is about claireece precious jones and how she becomes a strong, independent woman.
Based on the novel push by sapphire, recipient of the truly moving picture award, an honored distinction given to films that unlock the vast potential of the human spirit and enable us to view stories that display courage, integrity and hope. Based on the novel push by sapphire, or simply precious, is a 2009 american drama film, directed and coproduced by lee daniels. On the day sapphire meets me in manhattan, her novel push has just. The movie revolves around precious who lives with her abusive mother monique and step father rodney. Based on the novel push sapphire interview youtube. 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. An unstated but selfevident moral of precious, set during ronald reagans presidency and based on a book published in the year of bill clintons welfare reform, is that government can. Lee daniels gives us howls of a life, buried deep within. Oct 31, 2009 how did america fall in love with precious. Precious then receives news that she is hivpositive, which comes about when they find her father dead from aids. Film analysis of the movie precious 2252 words 10 pages.
The future for young people like precious seems so unremittingly bleak, the social inequities so entrenched, the cruelty that parents can inflict on their children so damaging and bewildering, that one is overwhelmed by the sheer hopelessness and awfulness of it all. Precious has critical eating disorders and finds comfort in constant eating. Nov, 2009 precious is groundbreaking and deserves to be seen. Based on the novel push by sapphire, a film that won two academy awards and was directed by lee daniels. Jun 11, 1996 push, now known as the book that inspired last years muchrenowned hit film precious, is the firstperson account of the teenage life of claireece precious jones, a harlem teenager who as of writing this account has given birth to two children, a boy and a girl, both products of her rape at the hands of her biological father. Precious, a movie based on the book push written by sapphire, is an interesting movie directed by lee daniels. If this were slumdog millionaire, that kind of resilience would send precious to a better life. How push became precious the gritty realism of the film precious is even more intense in the novel push, upon which the film is based. Precious gains selfrespect, successfully delivers a healthy baby, escapes from mary, and sets about the task of raising her children and getting an education. Sapphire releases graphic sequel to push more than a decade after the novel push was published, audiences can learn about the son of pushs heroine, precious.
Based on the novel push by sapphire r, 1 hr 50 min. The storys world is stacked against precious, and the movie s marketing engine is stacked against sidibe, but in some ways those. Based on the novel push by sapphire is a 2009 film about an overweight, illiterate teen, pregnant with her second child, who is invited to enroll in an alternative school in hopes that her life can head in a new direction. Gabourey gabby sidibe, a young actress in her debut performance as precious, says, i. After precious is raped by her father, her mother, is angry not at. She is faced with the choice to follow opportunity and test her own boundaries. Nov 20, 2009 precious lives with her mother mary, who abuses precious both physically and emotionally. May 25, 2011 the movie precious tells two stories at once.
Based on the novel push by sapphire, a film that won two academy awards and was directed by. It felt like a movie might box her precious in and i. Mar 08, 2010 but todaygiven the power of film, publicity, and celebritythe cinematic shadow often takes precedence. How author created film character precious through her own sexual. A sequel to the book was published in 2011, called the kid, about precious son abdul. Based on a 1996 book written by the new york based performance poet and author known as. Her mother, defeated by life, takes it out on her daughter. The film stars gabourey sidibe, monique, paula patton, and mariah carey. The movie is based on the novel push by sapphire albers. The film, precious, named after its protagonist, took america by storm when it. Precious is a grim yet ultimately triumphant film about abuse and innercity life, largely bolstered by exceptional performances.
Precious lives with her mother mary, who abuses precious both physically and emotionally. She avoids looking at people, she hardly ever speaks, shes nearly illiterate. But good things can happen in this world and precious is blessed with an indomitable spirit that refuses to accept the negative reinforcement that bombards her. They will never fully appreciate what was lost, gained, or rearranged, and they will never grasp where the narration has become dialogue or monologue. Based on the novel push by sapphire isnt an easy sundayafternoon watch by any stretch of the imagination, but theres a devastatingly heartbreaking story about the hardship of inner city life and illiteracy within young poor american society.
Rowling, the hunger games by suzanne collins, harry potter and the order of t. That was even more true in 1987, the year in which precious. Though she loves math, she can barely read or write. Its all on the back of the film of the book, a film i swore id never let them make because i was worried that it would. Based on the novel push by sapphire, was directed by lee daniels and starring gabourey sidibe as precious. Of the hundreds of movies based on books, here are the 19 best, in no particular order.
This film marked the acting debut of sidibe, who portrays a young woman struggling against. Push is the 1996 debut novel of american author sapphire. The previous night, at the gala screening of his movie precious. Caught my attention from the very first sentence and couldnt put it down until i was finished. Based on the novel push by sapphire points viewers toward the original novel, but the great majority of viewers will never take the opportunity to compare film and text. Even though the film precious packs quite a wallop, the gritty realism of the novel upon which the movie is based is even more.
Discussion guide developed by heartland truly moving pictures. The movie precious tells two stories at once huffpost. Based on the novel push by sapphire is set, when new york city was poorer than it is now, a black president was a laughable pipe. Nov 09, 2009 sapphire, author of the novel push, talks about writing the book and the making of the film. Original soundtrack to the 2009 motion picture precious. Nov 06, 2009 as the overly long title crediting the books author indicates the movie is based upon a novel. Based on a novel by sapphire, this is some pretty bleak stuff. Though the story is a fiction based life of claireece precious jones it is far from reality for many young women.
In the final scene we witness precious striding out cheerfully and purposefully with her two children, her future uncertain but her dignity triumphant. Sapphires first book became the oscarwinning film precious but. Based on the novel push by sapphire is a vibrant, honest and resoundingly hopeful film about the human capacity to grow and overcome. This is a film that left me initially feeling profoundly. Precious, a black american teenager, appears to have. Who is the real precious based on the movie by tyler perry and oprah winfrey. The storys world is stacked against precious, and the movies marketing engine is stacked against sidibe, but in some ways those. The film was directed by lee daniels and stars monique, paula patton, mariah carey, sherri shepherd, lenny kravitz and gabourey sidibe. Sapphire interviewed about new book, the kid, and child. Weiss, precious must learn how to find a new lease on life, and in the immediate present, find a way to never have to go home and live in a house with her mother ever again. Fletcher, adapted from the 1996 novel push by sapphire. Discussion guide developed by heartland truly moving pictures to accompany precious. Although it was far from a light read it was powerful and i finished it in a day because it is relatively short and i was engrossed in the story. Precious push movie tiein edition precious push movie tiein edition by sapphire author on oct202009 paperback sapphire.