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Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
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Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 98 | slideshow) Videos (see all 15)
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009) -- In Harlem, an overweight, illiterate teen (Sidibe) who is pregnant with her second child is invited to enroll in an alternative school in hopes that her life can head in a new direction.
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009) -- Interview: Paula Patton "On Gabourey Sidibe"
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009) -- TV Spot: Life
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009) -- In Harlem, an overweight, illiterate teen (Sidibe) who is pregnant with her second child is invited to enroll in an alternative school in hopes that her life can head in a new direction.
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009) -- Trailer for this very sad drama about a girl trying to find happiness

Overview

User Rating:
7.6/10   5,666 votes
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MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 1% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Geoffrey Fletcher (screenplay)
Sapphire (novel)
Contact:
View company contact information for Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
3 DECEMBER 2009 (Netherlands) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Life is hard. Life is short. Life is painful. Life is rich. Life is....Precious.
Plot:
In Harlem, an overweight, illiterate teen who is pregnant with her second child is invited to enroll in an alternative school in hopes that her life can head in a new direction. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 32 wins & 33 nominations more
User Reviews:
Heartbreaking and Riveting, Precious Will Win Your Heart more (94 total)
US Showtimes:
Culver Plaza Theatres 12:05pm | 2:40 | 5:05 | 7:30 | 9:40 (personalize) more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Gabourey 'Gabby' Sidibe ... Precious (as Gabourey Sidibe)
Mo'Nique ... Mary

Paula Patton ... Ms. Rain

Mariah Carey ... Mrs. Weiss

Sherri Shepherd ... Cornrows
Lenny Kravitz ... Nurse John

Stephanie Andujar ... Rita

Chyna Layne ... Rhonda

Amina Robinson ... Jermaine

Xosha Roquemore ... Joann

Angelic Zambrana ... Consuelo
Aunt Dot ... Tootsie

Nealla Gordon ... Mrs. Lichtenstein
Grace Hightower ... Social Worker

Barret Helms ... Tom Cruise (as Barret Isaiah Mindell)
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Precious (International: English title) (informal short title)
Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire (USA) (new title)
Push: Based on the Novel by Sapphire (USA) (working title)
more
MPAA:
Rated R for child abuse including sexual assault, and pervasive language.
Runtime:
110 min | Canada:109 min (Toronto International Film Festival)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Certification:
USA:R (certificate #45477) | UK:15 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Netherlands:12 | Ireland:15A
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Shot in only five weeks. more
Goofs:
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Early in the movie when Precious is shown in her original high school, the teacher has written the word "REQUIRMENTS" in large print on the blackboard. The word is misspelled. more
Quotes:
Clareece 'Precious' Jones: You don't even like me.
Mrs. Weiss: Have we not been in this room together for like, a year discussing your life?
Clareece 'Precious' Jones: Does that mean we like each other because we discussing my life?
Mrs. Weiss: [Smiling] Well, I can't speak for you. I can only speak for me, and I like you. I do.
more
Movie Connections:
References "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986) more
Soundtrack:
He Is the Joy more

FAQ

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37 out of 61 people found the following review useful.
Heartbreaking and Riveting, Precious Will Win Your Heart, 4 OKTÓBER 2009
10/10
Author: alexart-1 from United States

I saw Precious at the New York Film Festival yesterday. As you may know, Precious is the only film to ever win the Audience Award at both the Sundance and Toronto International Film Festivals. The film has been highly hyped since January and I was afraid I would be underwhelmed. Well, I sure wasn't! Precious is a powerhouse piece of cinema that will rip your heart to shreds. The acting is pitch perfect from everybody and the film-making is unusual.

Precious is about Claireece 'Precious' Jones, an overweight girl who has already had a child with Down's Syndrome from when she was raped by her father. Her mother constantly abuses her and she's already pregnant with her second baby. When she gets kicked out of school and is forced to go to an alternative school to help her get her GED, she realizes that there may actually be hope for her.

The acting is easily the most important and best thing during Precious. Newcomer Gabourey Sidibe will absolutely be famous and definitely deserves the Best Actress Oscar. Her performance was so real and searing that you're just forced to sympathize with her. Other cast includes Lenny Kravitz, Mariah Carey, and Mo'Nique who are all unfamiliar to the genre, but still perform very well. Mo'Nique gives a really great performance as the abusive mother Mary and should definitely win an Oscar as well. Mariah Carey's performance is a bit dry, but her character is not very major. Paula Patton, the actress who plays Blu Rain, Precious' teacher, gives a believable and loving performance as well. Also, the girls in Precious' class are all great. I actually was sitting behind them at the screening and got the them to sign my Playbill. They were all very excited.

The crowd seemed to love the movie. At Toronto, people laughed at serious parts, but the New York audience ate it up. People clapped for Precious, cried at the right parts, and even gasped at the screen over some of the violence. The violence is often so abrupt that it feels as if you too could have just been hit over the head with a pan. Everybody was so engaged in watching it even Gabourey Sidibe herself who had already seen it three times. Even she had trouble watching some parts. At the end of the movie, everyone in the audience stood up and gave Lee Daniels and his cast about a ten minute standing ovation. Everybody loved the film. Precious is definitely one of the best movies of the year and will definitely at least be nominated for Best Picture if not win it. It may be a bit bleak, but Precious gives me and everybody else hope. Lee Daniels wrote a quotation at the end of the movie that said "For precious girls everywhere". This is what really put the icing on the cake. Precious is a magnificent and disturbing movie.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009)
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screenplay in pdf Jonathan-18
I'm disappointed in YOU. Mhm. ehhsie
I'm disappointed in YOU. ehhsie
Pig's Feet? blaster151
Scene with baby (maybe spoilers?) gublue24
Stop trying so hard to drop this movie's rating starscream823
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