Set in Harlem in 1987, it is the story of Claireece "Precious" Jones (Gabourey Sidibe), a sixteen-year-old African-American girl born into a life no one would want. She's pregnant for the second time by her absent father; at home, she must wait hand and foot on her mother (Mo'Nique), a poisonously angry woman who abuses her emotionally and physically. School is a place of chaos, and Precious has reached the ninth grade with good marks and an awful secret: she can neither read nor write. Precious may sometimes be down, but she is never out. Beneath her impassive expression is a watchful, curious young woman with an inchoate but unshakeable sense that other possibilities exist for her. Threatened with expulsion, Precious is offered the chance to transfer to an alternative school, Each One/Teach One. Precious doesn’t know the meaning of "alternative," but her instincts tell her this is the chance she has been waiting for. In the literacy workshop taught by the patient yet firm Ms. Rain (Paula Patton), Precious begins a journey that will lead her from darkness, pain and powerlessness to light, love and self-determination.Wow! This is one powerful movie. I thought for sure that this was going to be the overly great reviewed movie that would be completely be ruined for me because of my inability to watch it thinking why did everyone say this was so great. Not to say that there weren't moments where my level of being in to the movie faded a little bit. However, MoNique's performance might be the most despicable and hated performance of all time. I've never watched certain scenes of a movie with such feelings of disgust towards a character. There were a couple of the domestic violence scenes where I actually had to look away. Not that they were too graphic. They were just so mentally jarring. Anyone who thinks that they have it "so hard" should go right ahead and check out these scenes. I'm pretty sure it will give them a whole new perspective on life.
I would strongly recommend that people check this out. Its a truly powerful drama with one of the most disturbing yet well done performances ever.
