Precious - Film Review

With exec producer Oprah Winfrey at the helm of the publicity drive, potential audiences for Precious might expect O-style subject treatment - downtrodden people overcoming stuff, redemption, spirituality. The trailer only adds fuel to these expectations. But there's no self-affirmation or inspirational positivity to be found here. The truth is, it's bleak. Really bleak.

The film opens on an unruly classroom in Harlem 1987, at the back sits poker-faced Claireece Precious Jones. With a glazed expression Precious reveals little to the world around her but we are afforded access to her thoughts via voiceover. Between daydream and reality, we soon learn that our hero is sixteen, pregnant for the second time (by her father) and now, suspended from school.

Aswe are given snapshot of her homelife -cats, grease, abusive mother, - we get an insight to the litany of physical and emotional abuse that Precious is subjected to. Fantasising a new life, Precious attends an 'alternative' school to help her illiteracy and attempts to build a support system around herself.

The film's story obviously has emotional appeal, but it refuses to take the easy road and pull on the heart strings with guaranteed tear jerker cliches, as you might expect. The trailer sets you up for a film of slow motion and montages, but this is not the case, and aside from one or two comments from teacher Blu Rain, Precious is neither preachy or patronising.

Its grim social realism is broken only with short bursts of fantasy, which can be jarring but thankfully become less frequent as the film progresses. This conflict of genre is a bold move by director Lee Daniels who has taken several risks with Precious. In terms of talent, the mix of newcomers, typecast and slated actors seems like a move destined for failure but it somehow works.

Gabourey Sidibe makes her debut as our hero with a low key performance that is restrained and pitch perfect. Elsewhere, it's easy to see why M'oNique won the Best Supporting Actress gong at the Golden Globes for her powerful portrayal of Precious' mother Mary, a surprising turn from the actress better known for her sitcom roles. The casting divas Mariah Carey and Lenny Kravitz was a gamble that paid off with understated but strong displays from both.

For the most part Precious makes uncomfortable viewing, but it is genuine and surprising. Just don't see it if you're feeling a bit blue.