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Hidden Gem | Gabourey Sidibe makes a powerful film debut as the heroine of Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire.

PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL “PUSH” BY SAPPHIRE
Directed by Lee Daniels. Starring Gabourey Sidibe, Mo’Nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey. Opens Fri, Nov 27.
****

Sapphire, the author of Push, was initially reluctant to have her novel made into a movie. She was afraid that her story about a poor, obese black girl would fall into stereotypes, erasing her intent to show the humanity of girls like Claireece “Precious” Jones (Gabourey Sidibe), 16, illiterate, and pregnant with her second child — a composite of the kinds of girls the author worked with as a literacy teacher in the Bronx. Indeed, some critics of the film have condemned it as “poverty porn,” regarding it as an exaggeration made purely for the titillation of the middle classes.

But the cumbersomely titled Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire is less about poverty than it is about abuse and hopelessness. Poverty does play into it, but those in more dire poverty have fared much better than Precious. She knows this too: “Crackheads,” she says, “give the ghetto a bad name.”

Aside from one morning without food, there seems to be plenty of pig feet and macaroni on the table. She has a home, but her bother her parents are verbally and physically abusive. She doesn’t complain about poverty so much as she wishes her mother (Mo’Nique) would love her and take care of her. She wishes her father would not rape her. And though her teachers have noticed that there is a problem, Precious doesn’t have the strength to leave. She herself doesn’t believe she is worth saving, so despite being called a fat, stupid animal, she stays.

The entire way through, you’re thinking, “God, I hope she’s going to be okay” ... it’s like one of those Victorian tales of promising young women teetering on the brink of utter ruination. Part of Precious’ problem is systemic: she earns As in school despite the fact that she doesn’t complete her homework, just because she is quiet and undisruptive, unlike her rowdy classmates. Despite the fact that she is virtually illiterate, she is invisible to her teachers.

Certainly it’s not because she lacks actual smarts — some of her private jokes, delivered in voice-over, are evidence of a sharp wit hidden by lack of confidence. And her fantasy life is rich and creative, and sometimes it’s only this imagination that allows her to survive: during her worst moments, she disappears into happy scenes where she is celebrated on the red carpet or in a music video. Her internal voice is bright and articulate.

Thankfully the system is not entirely fallible — it only takes one person to notice her potential, however slight. The principal of her school expels her, not for being a bad student, but because she knows an alternative school where a kid like Precious ought to flourish. It’s a miracle that makes her attend her first class, and it’s painful knowing how easily she could slip off course. It will take an entire community of support and all the courage that Precious has in order for her to succeed. We all know that both are meagre.

There are so many moments where she could be discouraged — even the receptionist at the Each One Teach One alternative school has a manner that would make most shy girls turn towards home. And the other girls in her class are terrifying. But the literacy teacher, Blu Rain (Paula Patton), coaxes Precious out of her shell. And the jaded social worker, Mrs. Weiss (Mariah Carey), has just enough energy for this one case. But the rest is up to Precious.

It’s not a perfect film — the visual style is inconsistent, with jarringly self-conscious zooms interrupting otherwise conventional camerawork. But all the technical problems are secondary to the work of an incredible cast. Gabourey Sidibe is mesmerizing in this, her first time in front of the cameras. Mo’Nique, as Precious’ mother, is despicable but fragile. It’s amazing to watch the frustrated intelligence behind her eyes as she tries to lie her way through her social worker interviews — the only way she knows to survive. And yes, Mariah Carey is downright plain (is that a hint of moustache?) and actually good in her role as Mrs. Weiss! And joining the singer-turned-actors in this crew, Lenny Kravitz makes a very enjoyable film debut as the very handsome Nurse John.

To dismiss Precious as “poverty porn” is completely off-base. First of all, pornography is supposed to be pleasurable. There is nothing of the sort, in fact, it’s hope we cling to: a quiet moment of relief every time Precious chooses something that is good for her, a pang of despair when another setback presents itself. How can anyone overcome such a life? But evidence of the power of hope are all around her: Blu Rain’s own background sounds familiar to Precious, and we all know that Nurse John didn’t grow up eating organic fruit. The message is clear: hope comes one person at a time, each offering it to the next.