IMDb > Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009)
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
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Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 96 | slideshow) Videos (see all 15)
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009) -- In Harlem, an overweight, illiterate teen (Sidibe) who is pregnant with her second child is invited to enroll in an alternative school in hopes that her life can head in a new direction.
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009) -- Interview: Paula Patton "On Gabourey Sidibe"
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009) -- TV Spot: Life
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009) -- In Harlem, an overweight, illiterate teen (Sidibe) who is pregnant with her second child is invited to enroll in an alternative school in hopes that her life can head in a new direction.
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009) -- Trailer for this very sad drama about a girl trying to find happiness

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Overview

User Rating:
7.3/10   1,666 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 22% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Geoffrey Fletcher (screenplay) and
Sapphire (novel)
Contact:
View company contact information for Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
3 December 2009 (Netherlands) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Life is hard. Life is short. Life is painful. Life is rich. Life is....Precious.
Plot:
In Harlem, an overweight, illiterate teen who is pregnant with her second child is invited to enroll in an alternative school in hopes that her life can head in a new direction. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
7 wins & 2 nominations more
User Comments:
Unreal Reality more (37 total)
US Showtimes:
The Bridge: Cinema de lux 11:15am | 12:15pm | 1:50 | 2:50 | 4:25 | 5:25 | 7:00 | 8:00 | 9:35 | 10:35 | 12:00am (personalize) more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Gabourey 'Gabby' Sidibe ... Precious (as Gabourey Sidibe)
Mo'Nique ... Mary

Paula Patton ... Ms. Rain

Mariah Carey ... Mrs. Weiss

Sherri Shepherd ... Cornrows
Lenny Kravitz ... Nurse John

Stephanie Andujar ... Rita

Chyna Layne ... Rhonda

Amina Robinson ... Jermaine

Xosha Roquemore ... Joann

Angelic Zambrana ... Consuelo
Aunt Dot ... Tootsie

Nealla Gordon ... Mrs. Lichtenstein
Grace Hightower ... Social Worker

Barret Helms ... Tom Cruise (as Barret Isaiah Mindell)
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Push: Based on the Novel by Sapphire (USA) (working title) (USA) (working title)
Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire (USA) (new title)
more
MPAA:
Rated R for child abuse including sexual assault, and pervasive language.
Runtime:
110 min | Canada:109 min (Toronto International Film Festival)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Certification:
USA:R (certificate #45477) | UK:15
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Over the course of the shoot the production lost an editor, a cinematographer, three continuity people, three locations managers, two producers, two assistant directors, two sound people, two video playback people, and two caterers. more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: During the field trip, an image of the 1989 Tiananmen Square student protest is visible. This happened several years after the movie, which is set in 1987. more
Quotes:
Mrs. Weiss: [Angrily] You just sat there, shut up, and let him abuse your daughter.
Mary: [Hysterically in tears] I did not want him to abuse my daughter! I did not want him to hurt her! I didn't want him to do nothing to her!
Mrs. Weiss: [Overlapping with Mary's voice] But you ALLOWED him to hurt her! You did!
Mrs. Weiss: But, those... those things she told you I did to her? Who... who... who else was going to love me?
more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
Humpin' Around more

FAQ

Who or what is "Precious"?
What's with the extra long title?
Is this movie based on a book?
more
2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful.
Unreal Reality, 18 November 2009
Author: John DeSando (jdesando@columbus.rr.com) from Columbus, Ohio

"My name is Clareece Precious Jones. I want to be on the cover of a magazine. I wish a had a light-skinned boyfriend with good hair. But first I want to be in one of those BET videos."

Precious in the film of the same name is 16, black, overweight, a mother of 2 children by her father, lives in Harlem, and dreams of music videos and a white boyfriend. This powerful slice of poor life seems unremittingly real and when juxtaposed with reality TV, downright authentic.

It's not difficult to see why this deeply affecting character study won top prizes from Sundance, Cannes, and Toronto: Its star is a new talent so immersed in her role that to think of her not being Precious is almost impossible, even for a cynic like me. Proficient with his second film, director Lee Daniels guides diva Mariah Carey into a role as an unforgettably underplayed social worker.

For an educator such as I, the classroom scenes at an alternative school where Precious prepares for the G.E.D are inspiring glimpses of how small classrooms with a gifted, patient teacher (Paula Patton as Ms. Rain) can transform the lost causes into productive citizens. Those scenes and the ones in the hospital where Precious delivers her second child are but brief unreal dreams in their own way of the love that may wait for Precious later in life—not now because her abusive mom still appears and tortures Precious in different ways (skillfully acted by comedienne Mo'Nique).

When Precious sees the endearing relationship her beloved teacher has with her partner, she exclaims, "They talk like people in TV shows that I don't watch." It's a brave, new world for her and a sobering joy for us to vicariously suffer and delight with a character whose weight might symbolize the heavy and complicated world that she may never be able completely to escape .

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Honest Question: Main character too fat to be sympathetic? mormonbabiesforsale
MS. Weiss 'Are you some kinda black or something?' siriussho
Is this Celie on steroids? sanateexx-1
I seriously just want to know...... mr-wy1994
if mo'nique is not given an oscar, injustice will have beendone. BUTrent
Needs to be in more theaters buffyfan2
more

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