I cannot recommend this film strongly enough! It is absolutely brilliant, often britally graphic, and completely mesmerizing in every way. The casting is genius, and if M’onique is not nominated for an Oscar, there is something amiss with our universe. (Actually, every cast member is deserving of a nomination. Mariah Carey was a revelation; Paula Patton turned in a performance that will astound you, and young Gabourey Sidibe is magical as Precious.) I also encourage everyone to read Sapphire’s book Push on which Daniels based this film. It is a never-to-be-forgotten reading experience. I will say that this film is one of the most brutal depictions of poverty, abuse, and race that I have ever seen, and thus is often very hard to watch. (The only other film I have ever had this feeling about was Guillermo del Toro’s amazing Pan’s Labyrinth.) But the honesty and directness, and the very soul of the film will stay with you for a long, long time. Please don’t miss it! Since seeing it as part of a film society I’ve belonged to for years, I have been a cheerleader for it, telling everyone to make it a top priority. It will blow you away.

I hope to see this movie.  I met a girl who was living this type of life when I was a young mother.  It bothers me greatly the amount of prejudism and abuse there still is in this world.  There is a song that comes to my mind.  "Reach out and touch somebody’s hand".  When will we ever learn to love everyone and give a helping hand when needed??  The time is now - Can we do it?  Will we do it?  Think how much better this world would be if we all got together in his hand.

And here we are in a really tough and delicate situation. How do we separate the fine actress who played Precious, Gabourey, from her character? I have seen two interviews she gave and she is like day and night from her character. Even her voice is completely different in real life.

However her appearance…..the reason she was chosen by Lee Daniels and Sapphire, was her appearance and the fact she is an actress. Some may look at her and see beauty, many more will not. I am sure there will be those who will defend her and speak of her "unconventional beauty" but much like her character in the movie, one would think that she too must have faced discrimination because of her off-beat appearance. 

That is why her life story is so wonderful. She has said she never experienced any of the problems Precious did. None of the degradation, self esteem and self worth issues, abuse and neglect. To the the contrary she says she was raised in an environment of love and learning. Embraced for her differences and respected for them as well. When I watched the interviews of her, her face glows when she speaks. Articulating herself in a manner I wasn’t expecting based on her brow-beaten character in the movie.

This is for me a sensitive subject and a learning lesson as well. What is the true definition of ugly? Who is ugly? When your physical appearance is somewhat repulsive but your spirit, personality and being are light, airy and beautiful, doesn’t that then make the whole of you beautiful?