Few films are as punishing as Precious. I have a pretty high tolerance for messed up movies: I sat through Audition, Salo, and Batman & Robin. But Precious hit me on a level that was almost too much for me. This film heaps so much on its protagonist - and by proxy, its audience - that I had to stop looking at the screen after a while. It wasn't that it was visually repulsive, just that looking at these characters became almost too painful. It didn't help that the acting was so strong that the people I was watching felt like real human beings. Now, a punishing experience can be a rewarding one: look no further than Requiem for a Dream for a perfect example of this. But when that punishment is in disproportion to anything else in the film, it can topple an otherwise noble venture. Yes, the story is powerful and the acting is great, but none of that matters when you feel like the director's primary goal is to make you feel repulsed.Before I go any further: I liked this movie. Its strong points were enough to make this a satisfying experience. But it is impossible to overlook this film's huge flaws, and I may spend more time harping on them than I spend praising what works. Just remember that ultimately, I recommend this film. Ok then. Director Lee Daniels may have experience with the issues addressed in Precious, it may mean a lot to him personally, but he is unable to filter those emotions in a meaningful way on screen. What is a redemptive, powerful story at heart is undermined by his exploitative sensibilities. The way the film is shot and edited seems to relish in the most salacious imagery. Why must we see a rape scene intermixed with frying food and crumbling ceilings? Granted, there is no easy way to film such a scene, but Daniels seems to not trust that it is unsettling on its own, and must add extra touches to upset us. Indeed, that is problematic throughout. Daniels is never content to let his story tell itself, he feels compelled to insert heightened imagery and moments, as if we are so desensitized that we wouldn't respond otherwise.
Now, I have never experienced this world before, nor do I know anyone who has, so I have no good frame of reference for the material in this film. I am not naive enough to think that these sorts of things don't happen to people. I know it's a sad fact of life that some people live short, thoroughly unpleasant lives punctuated with abusive and damaging moments. But the amount of things piled onto Precious here are simply unbelievable, and unnecessary. When Precious brings home her newborn son, it's not enough that her mother is blowing smoke in the baby's face and cursing, she has to drop the child on purpose. It's not enough that Precious is raped by her father, she has to contract HIV from him as well. And on and on, etc. Precious is already a very sympathetic and fascinating character, but the screenplay does not trust this and keeps piling it on in the hopes of making us feel more for the poor young woman. Thankfully, it is the performances that overcome the screenplay and direction and almost make this a genuinely great film.
As Precious, Gabby Sibide is a revelation. She plays the damaged youth in a quietly affecting way. It helps that she's been blessed with such an expressive face, allowing her to transmit so much to the audience without saying a word. And in case you might think this unknown actress is simply playing an exaggerated version of herself, there are plenty of fantasy scenes where the mumbly, slow speaking girl is transformed into a glamorous, charming, verbose woman. From what I've seen in interviews, this is much more akin to the real Sidibe, making her transformation into Precious all the more amazing. But perhaps the real surprise is Mo'Nique. When I wrote about Funny People this summer, I said one of the great joys in film is seeing an amazing performance come from someone you didn't think had it in them. Well that is Mo'Nique to a T. She plays Precious' mom as an unholy monster of a woman, never shying away from the truly ugly nature of the woman. And yet, when it comes time to peel back a few layers, Mo'Nique is able to let us into this woman in unexpected ways while never letting us forget what she has done. It is a towering, fearless performance the likes of which we rarely see.
On the shoulders of these two actresses, Precious becomes a movie worth seeing. These are two of the best performances of the year, make no mistake, and they rise above their untrusting director. I think that this is a story well worth telling, but it has been done better elsewhere. For a similar examination of this kind of world, check out season 4 of The Wire. It covers much of the same territory, but with a much lighter and more refined style. It trusts the audience in ways Daniels never quite does. Still, Precious is a great character worthy of her own movie, and since we'll never get a movie worthy of her, this one will have to do.
