It reflects poorly on current cinema that Precious has been accorded the critical acclaim that suits an Academy Award contender. The film is sentimental, an essay into human nature, but it is as flawed as the characters who are portrayed. Everyone appreciates stories with happy endings, especially those featuring the Cinderella archetype, but Precious misses the mark.
The audience was mostly moved when it is in shock because the protagonist, Claire “Precious” Jones , was victim to vicious violence or exceedingly cruel treatment. The crowd did not react during the terse dialogue between Precious, her mother Mary, and a social worker during the climax of the film nor afterwards since since the somewhat abrupt conclusion left many questions unanswered.
Precious is atypical because it features characters who are not commonly seen on the silver screen. The life of the “Precious” is undoubtedly tragic. Nobody deserves to be treated in that fashion – raped by her father and abused by her mother – and though the film may be fictional, it is an unfortunate fact that there are cases like this in the real world that are not properly resolved by the government’s social services.
When “Precious” is attacked by family members or thugs on the street, she fantasizes about walking the red carpet or becoming queen of a ball. This overt symbolism softens the hard edges of the film but it is not an effective directorial technique.
There is a hero who must face obstacles throughout her quest and despite her best effort, she cannot achieve her objectives. Is it a cold fact of life or an example of setting unreasonable goals? Whenever she is confronted by adversity, she attempts to escape rather than deal with the conflict. What is the message of the film?
The film features some compelling characters, ranging from the leading lady to the bit characters. How could people treat each other in this way? Due to the outstanding work of the actors, it seems as if the characters truly believe that they are justified in their actions. When “Precious” finally confronts her mother towards the end of the film, we see moral relativism at work. Over the years, although Mary does not realize the change, in her eyes her daughter has transformed from an object of affection to a target of resentment.
“Precious” was given her name because her parents believed that they truly cherished her but their actions belie this fact. It is admirable that she perseveres, with the help of her teacher and friends, even when her self-confidence wavers. Nevertheless, it Precious is another example of a good story made into a mediocre film. **½