STUDIO/DIRECTOR _______Lee Daniels__________________________
- 1. PLOT (Ideas that drove the film).
- 2. HISTORICAL SETTING
- 3. STATUS OF RACE RELATIONS DURING PERIOD
- 4. RACIAL ISSUES PRESENTED IN FILM
- 5. HOW WERE THESE ISSUES RESOLVED?
- 6. WAS THE STORY REALISTIC, OR MYTHIC?
- 7. HOW WAS THE PROTAGONIST IN THE MOVIE PORTRAYED? IN A NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE MANNER?
- 8. WERE ANY RACIAL STEREOTYPES OR IMAGES PERPETUATED IN THE MOVIE? IF SO, WHAT WERE THEY?
- 9. WAS AN IDEOLOGY EXPRESSED?
- 10. WHAT IS OR COULD BE THE SOCIAL OR POLITICAL IMPACT OF SUCH AN IDEOLOGY?
- 11. WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE FILM?
11. WHY DID YOU LIKE IT OR NOT?
Claireece Precious Jones is a sixteen year old African American girl whose life is hardly better than a nightmare. She is constantly abused by her mother, raped by her father and bullied by her peers because of her obesity. For the reason of being pregnant with her second child from her biological father, Precious is advised by her principle to transfer to an alternative school. In the new class the girl has finally found support and inspiration that she needed so much. A sympathetic English teacher Ms. Blue Rain helps Precious to become literate and, what is more important, helps to believe in herself. After giving birth to her son, the main heroine finds out that she is VIH-positive, but this does not break her. At the end of the movie Precious is a different person, determined to receive a high school diploma equivalency and improve her life and the life of her children.
The protagonist, Claireece Precious Jones, was portrayed in a rather positive and sincere way. Even though we first see Precious as angry, asocial and illiterate teenage girl, we soon start to sympathize her. After going together with the heroine through all her hardships, it is difficult not to adore the strength of her character and her journey to self-acceptance.
The story takes place in 1987, in New York City, ghetto of Harlem. During this period of history of the United States the life of black people had been improving, but they still were facing a lot of prejudice. Even though there are no instances of direct discrimination against Afro-Americans displayed in the movie, there are certain racial issues presented. Precious reinforces the idea that Blacks are poor and illiterate and will stay such because it somehow suits them. A vivid example of white people’s predominance is the opening scene where the heroine says, “I wish I had a light-skinned boyfriend with real nice hair.” Another bright moment is a moment when Precious looks in the mirror and instead of her own reflection sees a thin white-skin girl whom she imagines to be. She believes that if she was white, her life would not have been so humiliating. It is clearly portrayed in the movie that the society has established white standards of beauty.
The ideology presented in the movie suggests the idea that the way Precious’ family lives is the only way of life for African Americans, and that nothing like that could even happen to a white family. This again suggests that while people are superior to the black ones. Still, while from one side it may look like the movie contributes to the reaffirmation of the negative stereotypes of black people, from the other side on the example of main character it is shown that people who are depicted as these stereotypes are full humans with emotions and intellect.
I think the story is rather realistic as it illustrates the brutal reality where many women, Black and not only, unfortunately will see themselves. Surprisingly, Precious does not follow a happy-ending scheme so common for most American movies. Instead, it is a true story of loneliness, rejection, survival and fight with oneself and the world.
I like the movie as I think it is very powerful. It tells the story that has to be told. It is not the story about the problems of one teenage girl, but about the dysfunctions in society in general. I believe each person can relate to Precious as we all suffer due to our own society's ideals. Despite somehow pessimistic atmosphere, the movie sends positive and important messages, such as equality and respect among different genders, races, nationalities and social classes, fostering of friendship, curiosity and strive for knowledge, which would make all of us better off.
