Precious (film)

Precious is a 2009 American drama film directed by Lee Daniels. It is based on the 1996 novel Push by Sapphire. The film stars Gabourey Sidibe as Claireece "Precious" Jones, an obese, illiterate, and abused 16-year-old girl living in Harlem in 1987.

The film chronicles Precious's journey as she navigates a life of extreme hardship, including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse by her mother, Mary (Mo'Nique), and the neglect of her absent father. Precious is also struggling with her weight, lack of education, and the realization that she is pregnant for the second time, both pregnancies resulting from sexual abuse by her father.

Precious explores themes of poverty, abuse, racism, education, and the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity. The film follows Precious as she is transferred to an alternative school, "Each One Teach One," where she encounters a supportive teacher, Ms. Rain (Paula Patton), and classmates who offer her a sense of community and hope. Through her experiences at the school, Precious begins to learn to read and write, confront her past traumas, and envision a different future for herself and her children.

The film garnered significant critical acclaim, particularly for the performances of Sidibe and Mo'Nique, as well as for Daniels's direction and the film's unflinching portrayal of difficult subject matter. Precious received numerous awards, including two Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actress for Mo'Nique and Best Adapted Screenplay for Geoffrey Fletcher. The film also received nominations for Best Picture, Best Director for Lee Daniels, Best Actress for Gabourey Sidibe, and Best Editing.