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Precious

Cover of Precious
Precious DVD
Lee Daniels, Director
2010

In this feature film based on the book Push by Sapphire, in 1987 an obese, illiterate, black 16-year-old named Claireece 'Precious' Jones lives in Harlem with her dysfunctional family. She has been raped and impregnated twice by her father, Carl and suffers constant physical, mental and sexual abuse from her unemployed mother, Mary. After getting pregnant for the second time, Precious is suspended from her school. Her principal arranges to have her attend an alternative school where her new teacher, Ms. Rain, helps Precious learn to read and she responds to this glimmer of hope. There Precious also meets Mrs. Weiss, a social worker, who discovers the abuse and incest that Precious has had to endure. As the film ends, we are hopeful about Precious' future. Gabourey Sidibe won many awards for her portrayal of Precious- including an NAACP Image Award, an Independent Spirit Award, a Black Reel Award and many others. The film (as well as director Lee Daniels and co-star Mo'Nique) also received many award nominations- including multiple Academy Award nominations.