Release year: 2009- Director: Lee Daniels
- Writer: Geoffrey Fletcher (screenplay) / Sapphire (novel)
- Awards: Won 2 Oscars
- Cast: Gabourey Sibide, Mo’nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey
When I first saw this movie I thought it was based on an actual true story, however, I found out later that was based on a novel written by Saphire (the lady who plays the day care woman at “Each one teach one” center), and that it was in fact inspired by many different stories known by her after having worked with young girls like “Precious” in Harlem back in the 80′s.
However, the story is not fiction at all, in fact, when me and my family were watching it my mom constantly told me “hey, just like that girl I told you about”, for in fact she has been sharing with me all kinds of sad stories from young girls who study at the school where she’s working now as a physician.
The movie, which didn’t find any distributor at first, was blessed by Oprah and her aid in promotioning the picture, and through Lions Gate Entertainment the movie made it to release and also to being recognized by critics around the world.
Although I found the pace to be really really slow, getting almost to the point of tediousness in some parts, the movie achieves to portray the sad but real story of many young girls who are born into disfunctional families and become a part of a vicious circle.
I think the movie leaves room for hope at the end when we see Precious carrying her two childs with her and walking away from her obnoxious mom, although we know that she’s facing a huge problem with her disease in the years to come.
I understand that this is not a popular subject in movies, that some people may get “disturbed” by it but is something worth to be told, is something that the world needs to be aware of and communities gotta do whatever it takes to be sure that this saddistic behaviour within families should be prosecuted.
As for the performances, I thought both, Mo’nique and Gabourey Sibide were spectacular in their roles.
Filed under: Biography, Drama, Independent Tagged: | AIDS, biography, book, Harlem, Mo'nique, novel, Oprah, Precious, Sapphire, story
