Push/Precious Paper “Life is hard. Life is short. Life is painful. Life is rich. Life is …. Precious.” This sentence effectively summarizes the contrasting aspects of the film, which delves into the difficult and poignant elements of life, while also leaving room for hope and optimism in a better future.
The movie “Precious” centers around a 16-year-old girl who confronts various challenges pertaining to her financial situation, social circumstances, and mental well-being.
This film presents a unique opportunity to witness an environment that is seldom portrayed and unfamiliar to many individuals.
We are confronted with different biases presented in a brutal and startling way, leaving us feeling surprised and confused. Precious is a film that showcases the influence of our upbringing, parents, and environment on us – and how we can change our lives despite difficult circumstances. Taking place in impoverished Harlem among African Americans, the movie has remarkably achieved immense success. Despite its realistic portrayal of social issues and focus on character-driven storytelling, it did not initially seem like a blockbuster hit. However, the film’s outstanding qualities are so apparent that both critics and the public have embraced it.
The novel “Push” is titled after a word that signifies the act of pushing or achieving something. This word carries great significance for Precious as it represents her need to focus on survival. Precious must push through the challenges in her life in order to progress. To move forward in life, Precious requires an opportunity to escape the abuse she endures from her parents and her difficult circumstances. It’s important to note that Precious is not alone in this endeavor; everyone must confront their own struggles in order to advance in daily life.
In the novel, Precious finds support and care in her classmates and her teacher, while others turn to their psychologist, doctor, friends, and family. She considers her classmates and Mrs. Rain as her chosen family, stating: “These girls are my friends. In a way, they are like family to me because I was only 16 on my first day here. They visited me in the hospital when I had Abdul and collected clothes, a cassette player, tuna fish, Campbell soup, and other things for me when Mama kicked me out and I moved to a halfway house. They, along with Ms. Rain, are my friends and family.”
It is not easy for Precious to progress in her life upon discovering that she has HIV. Consequently, she fights against the illness and uses her education as a distraction from her hardships, enabling her to persevere in reading and writing. Some individuals may have aspirations of improving their lives, but it is vital to maintain a realistic perspective and avoid excessive dreaming. Dreams are merely fantasies and should not be expected to materialize into reality. If one has experienced unfortunate events, they should refrain from dwelling on the past because what is done is done. Initially, it may cause pain, but over time, the situation will improve as time is a healer of all wounds.
Through various experiences, Precious has developed crucial skills and achieved independence. The true significance of her name, Precious, which conveys worthiness, preciousness, and expense, becomes evident. Grasping the symbolism behind her name signifies an optimistic life full of promise. “The importance of my name lies in its value – Precious. Claireece belongs to someone else. I have no idea where my mother found it.” Nevertheless, in her parents’ eyes, Precious does not hold value within this particular circumstance.
Precious is devalued and regarded as a “stone” by her parents, lacking love and enduring a painful, abbreviated existence. Traumatic experiences affect us all, resulting in diverse expressions of suffering. Occasionally, the burdens become so insurmountable that we rely on others for support. These individuals play an essential role by providing words, guidance, and empathy. In such circumstances, a parallel can be drawn.
Precious’ life intertwines with ours as we seek help from others when facing challenges, unlike Precious who overcomes her traumatic experiences with the support of her classmates and Mrs. Rain. Many reviewers acknowledge the authenticity portrayed in this film, and this authenticity is not accidental. “Push,” the novel on which the film is based, draws from author Sapphire’s personal experiences as a teacher in Harlem. Director Lee Daniels deliberately selects actors based on their character type and charisma, opting for untrained actors to enhance the film’s credibility and rawness.
In addition, both the film and the book exhibit a documentary-like style, portraying the environment and themes with social realism. This choice of filming style adds a tough quality to the movie, just as the book portrays Precious as a girl with a strong Afro American accent who is indifferent to others’ opinions but carries a sense of insecurity. Consequently, Precious builds emotional walls to hide her vulnerabilities and appear strong.
The film did not portray the same level of graphic content as the book. The book primarily focuses on Precious, while neglecting the historical context. Within the book, a detailed account is provided of Precious’ mother abusing her, as well as Precious’ distressing flashbacks regarding her father, all depicted in a negative light: “He stink (…) Daddy sick me, disgust me.” Upon watching the movie, it became apparent to me that certain scenes were missing. For instance, in the book it is revealed that Precious is expelled from school, and subsequently, she strikes Mrs…
Lichenstein contends that the expulsion of Precious on account of her pregnancy is unfair. According to him, he had planned to physically remove her from the chair forcefully. However, she fell backward while attempting to flee and started shouting for security assistance. In addition, the book discloses that Precious will be admitted to a hospital as a consequence of the severe mistreatment by her mother. The movie showcases her mother throwing a frying pan at Precious as well. Moreover, Mrs. Rain’s portrayal in the film differs from my perception in the book; she appears tall and attractive on screen, whereas I interpreted her personality in the book as exceedingly strict.
Although the movie lacks the detail provided in the book, it still effectively captures its message. In the book, Precious extensively recounts her father’s abuse and describes its emotional and physical impact. The film concludes with Precious choosing to better her life for herself and her children by cutting ties with her mother and pursuing education. Both the movie and the book offer comprehensive perspectives, each filling gaps left by the other.
