In Harlem in 1987, Claireece "Precious" Jones is a 16-year-old African American girl born into a life no one would want. She's pregnant for the second time by her absent father, and at home she must wait hand and foot on her mother, an angry woman who abuses her emotionally and physically. School is chaotic and Precious has reached the ninth grade with good marks and a secret – she can't read.
In Harlem in 1987, Claireece "Precious" Jones is a 16-year-old African American girl born into a life no one would want. She's pregnant for the second time by her absent father, and at home she must wait hand and foot on her mother, an angry woman who abuses her emotionally and physically. School is chaotic and Precious has reached the ninth grade with good marks and a secret – she can't read.
The film's central thesis explicitly promotes progressive ideology by highlighting systemic issues of poverty, abuse, and marginalization, and championing solutions rooted in social support, education, and community intervention for vulnerable populations.
The movie features a predominantly Black cast, reflecting the specific community and experiences central to its narrative. The story focuses on the protagonist's personal struggles and the challenges within her environment, rather than explicitly critiquing traditional identities.
The film portrays LGBTQ+ characters, notably Ms. Rain and Nurse John, as compassionate, supportive figures crucial to the protagonist's journey. While homophobic abuse is depicted, it is clearly condemned as part of the antagonist's cruelty, ultimately affirming the worth and positive impact of queer individuals.
The film "Precious" is an adaptation of the novel "Push" by Sapphire. In the source material, a male nurse character named Nurse John is present. In the film, this role is portrayed by a female character, Ms. Weiss, constituting a gender swap.
The film portrays Christianity through the deeply hypocritical and abusive actions of Precious's mother, Mary, who weaponizes religious rhetoric. However, the narrative unequivocally condemns Mary's behavior, positioning the audience to recognize her actions as a perversion of faith rather than an indictment of Christianity itself. The film implicitly affirms values of compassion and redemption, which are often associated with the faith, through the positive influence of other characters.
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
The film "Precious" is an adaptation of the novel "Push" by Sapphire. The main characters, including Precious, were established as Black in the source material and are portrayed by Black actors in the film, aligning with the original depiction.
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