Movies

Produced by Oprah Winfrey and featuring a cast of the most unlikely stars, "Precious" is something of an 'anti-"Avatar"' - a humble, low budget film rich in character drama that rings true to life. Claireece 'Precious' Jones (Gabourey Sidibe) is a 16-year-old girl from Harlem, coping with the most excruciating circumstances. It's 1987, and Precious dreams of a life of fame and fortune. Her fantasies are her only escape from an abusive mother (Mo'Nique), a pregnancy by her estranged father, and the painful secret that she cannot read nor write. The power of this film is despite the shocking, traumatic events Precious is forced to endure, she refuses to give up hope for a better future. Sidibe balances this vulnerability and strength effortlessly - a feat even more impressive given this is her debut film role. The cast is full of surprises. Mariah Carey, so widely lambasted for her acting attempts in "Glitter", proves she has what it takes as a social worker who takes on Precious' case. She's almost unrecognisable here. So too singer Lenny Kravitz as a nurse who befriends the title character. But the real find here is Mo'Nique, an American talk show host and comedienne who is suddenly the talk of Tinseltown. As Precious' horrific mother Mary, she is the hot favourite to win the Supporting Actress Oscar, having already walked away with a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award. This isn't an easy film to watch, but it's an important one. Director Lee Daniels (who previously produced the outstanding films "Monster's Ball" and "The Woodsman") takes the source material – the novel "Push" by Sapphire – and turns it into a truly unforgettable experience. You'll never forget it.