It started early in 2009. The buzz began. A little, independent gritty "urban" drama called "Precious: Based On the Novel Push By Sapphire" was a surprise, sensational hit with film festivals across the board and the searing performance by comedian Mo'Nique in a brutal role was all anyone could talk about. Suddenly this little drama was making massive waves.
I initially was quite nervous when I heard that Sapphire's painfully brilliant novel was being adapted. I couldn't imagine seeing a film that illuminated the daily horrors of the life of an illiterate, obese Harlem teen. I kept wondering what in the world was to come of this film and who in the world would even be apart of it. It just sounded so far-fetched. I also kept thinking about the images that film would portray and how mass audiences--black and white--would handle such dark subject matter. Now I'm not one of those people who believe that positive images are the only images of blacks we should see. I feel that's very unrealistic. As an artist, I am about illustrating the range of black people. It's not about positive and negative--it's about TRUTHFUL images and displays. It's also about BALANCE. Something so rarely achieved when only three or four black movies come out a year--mostly comedies.
Since the movie hit theatres, audiences have either had a love or hate relationship with it. Or some have had very mixed feelings. While I think the film was passionately directed by Lee Daniels and was a strong movie held together by extraordinary performances, I also feel the movie was very problematic. And not necessarily just problems within the movie in itself--but the fact that mass audiences are so ready to receive such a film. A friend of mine's concern was the only time the "masses" want to see us and honor us is when we're playing into their stereotypes. There's such a fine line.
What I did like about this movie was that we had a protagonist we have never had. Someone who is invisible in this society, someone who's voice desperately deserves to be heard. Gabourey Sidibe was amazing as Precious. She brought such heart and depth to the role, scoring her a well-deserved Oscar Nomination.
Mo'Nique's performance as Precious's terrifying mother was brilliant. She ripped through the scenes and horrified me. I actually had a very difficult time watching her on screen. The hype was true. She has had perhaps the best film performance of 2009. I just kept thinking those who know little of our urban realities outside of what they see on screen--how will they view this black mother? Will they assume this is how all black mothers are in the 'hood? And it's not far-fetched to wonder. When The Color Purple came out, my mother was asked by her white friend if all black women in the south endured that sort of wrath that Danny Glover brought to Whoopi Goldberg. IMAGES ARE POWERFUL, y'all.
I also felt Paula Patton's soulful performance as Precious's teacher who encourages her voice was beautiful and understated. Patton truly impressed. There is a scene in particular with her--that just stays with me. Rounding out the great performances was Mariah Carey as the social worker and Lenny Kravitz as the male nurse.
If there were fifty black films coming out a year and not just five, there would be less controversy. We'd hopefully have a more well-rounded perspective of the vastness of the black experience. But when there are so few movies, we have to pay attention. We have to take a closer look. We have to wonder and analyze because that's the only way to truly understand where we are at as an industry and a society.
I love that it is a movie about survival. The fact that one can survive the most horrifying odds and still have a voice and reclaim their humanness. I commend Lee Daniels for creating such a dynamic movie, despite it's flaws. I love that the movie inspires deep, endless debate. We should be talking about this film. It's important that we're talking about this film.
But there are very heated issues that continue to come up: do the stereotypes outweigh the inspiration? the issues of colorism... I mean, everyone who helps Precious is light-skinned and everyone who brutalizes her is dark-skinned... an issue that, for me, is the biggest flaw, and of course the lack of a strong black male figure--other an Lenny Kravitz whose presence was all over ten minutes of the film. There are more debate-worthy issues of this film but those are just a few that come to mind.
Yes, there are Preciouses out there and they deserve their voices heard and their stories told and yes, also, there is definitely cause for concern when the only movie about us the mainstream is "excited" about is one where the most horrifying issues within the black community are illuminated on screen.
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