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Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
Lee Daniels Entertainment
Oprah Winfrey & Tyler Perry Executive Producers
Lee Daniels, Director
The movie “Precious,” released in theaters in late 2009 and based on the novel “Push” by Sapphire, is not only a captivating story, but is a commentary on childhood trauma, its long term effects, and the power of resilience. Claireece Precious Jones (played by Gabourey Sidibe) is a 16 year-old illiterate African American teen who lives in Harlem with her dysfunctional mother Mary (played by Mo’Nique). The family is on welfare, and lives in a drug-infested neighborhood. Precious is subjected to verbal and physical abuse by her mother, and sexual abuse by both parents. She has two children that are the result of incest by her father.
Precious’ daily interactions with her mother are difficult to watch, but not unlike those we hear about from clients with PTSD and dissociative disorders. Precious’ mother hurls continuous insults at her (“stupid,” “fat ass,” “lying whore,” “you can’t learn shit” “don’t noone want you,” “I should have aborted your ass”), blames her for her father’s abuse of her (“you fuck my man”), and even calls her an “uppity bitch,” because she is going to school and learning. Physical abuse is daily, as Precious’ mother chases her and throws things at her that could easily cause concussion or death. When Precious needs some money for food, she is called upstairs to “take care of her mother,” who we know from the previous scene is masturbating in bed. In one of the most intense scenes in the movie, we see Precious’ father having sex with her (telling her she’s even better in bed than her mother) while her mother stands in the doorway doing nothing to intervene. Reports of events like these are all too familiar to therapists who treat DID and other trauma related disorders.
Another prominent theme we see in the movie Precious is the theme of dual messages from perpetrators. Precious often has to go for days without eating, even though she is cooking for her mother; other times, she is forced to eat large amounts of food because her mother is not satisfied with what Precious has cooked for her. All the while Precious’ mother is calling her a “fat ass.” When a social worker comes to visit the home of Mary and Precious Jones, Mary pretends that Precious’ daughter Mongo (short for Mongoloid, because Precious’ daughter has Down’s syndrome) lives there so she can get more welfare money, when in fact Mongo lives with her grandmother. Mary is perfectly cooperative with the social worker and kind to Mongo while the social worker is there, but is cruel and verbally abusive to Mongo after she leaves. Mary lies to the social worker and tells her she has tried to obtain employment but she really desires to stay on welfare. All of these interactions occur in front of Precious, and Precious has to play along like everything is fine. Lastly, towards the end of the movie, after Precious has left her family, Mary begs Precious’ social worker Ms. Weiss (played by Mariah Carey) to reunite her with her daughter and grandchildren because she loves them, simultaneously telling Ms. Weiss in so many words that she allowed Precious’ father to sexually abuse her. These mixed messages about needs, nurturance, love, truth, and reality are often reported by childhood trauma survivors when they discuss their histories.
We know from research with perpetrators and from work with survivors that perpetrators of child abuse can be very narcissistic in their view of self and in their perceptions of interactions with their children. This is portrayed exquisitely in the last scene of the movie: Mary Jones tries to explain to Ms. Weiss that she didn’t want Carl (Precious’ father) to hurt “her baby,” but that “he wanted my daughter and that’s why I hated her.” Mary Jones says tearfully that it was Precious’ fault and cries “that was my man!”… “who was going to love me?” As viewers, we know in that moment that Mary never considered her daughter’s emotional or physical needs, and that she blamed her daughter for her partner’s abandonment of her. Although it is uncommon for perpetrators like Mary Jones to admit their neglect, we are aware that blame is often placed on the victim in this manner.
Throughout the film we see the variety of consequences that Precious’ abuse is having on her emotional well-being. She has a numbness or lack of reactivity about her that is characteristic of many chronic trauma survivors. She does not act frightened around her mother, either because she has become numb to her feelings due to repeated abuse, or because she has consciously decided to hide her emotions from her mother so that she is less vulnerable. At other times, she has flashbacks of her abuse; there is a moment in the movie when Precious is under stress (presumably because her teacher is pressuring her to read), and she has a flashback of her mother yelling at her. She is briefly not mentally in the room with her teacher but is rather back in another place and time.
We also see Precious exhibiting dissociative episodes during painful/traumatic events (e.g. when her father is having sex with her, when she is attacked on the street, when she is made to eat a large amount of food). When she dissociates, she goes to a safe fantasy space (e.g. she imagines herself as a famous person, or as a daughter with a loving mother). This “going away” helps her to escape the pain of whatever traumatic event she is enduring. When she looks in the mirror, she does not see herself, but rather the person she desires to be; imagining herself as someone else helps her cope with her psychological pain.
In addition, Precious is vulnerable to revictimization. Although we cannot be certain if this is due to her submissive body language and lack of confidence, she is clearly seen as a target for violence by a group of men on the street. It is not uncommon for individuals who have experienced chronic childhood trauma to experience additional abusive interpersonal events outside the home.
Precious’ lack of self esteem is the most prominent symptom we see as a result of her home environment. In her original school, she sits in the back of the class, and does not even open her books. She does not feel competent at anything and sometimes wishes she was dead. She says at one point in the movie that she is always looking up, waiting for something to fall on her.
Despite Precious’ low self confidence, we see glimmers of hope that seem to come from inside her, even before she is exposed to the people who exert the most positive influence on her life. She says that her “heart feel warm” after the visit to her apartment by the principal who tells her about the possibility of attending an alternative, special school called “Each one, Teach one.” After a bad interaction with her mother, Precious says, “I hate it when she do that,” but says to herself “that’s why God makes new days.” She is interested in the special school, and it is her interest and curiosity that help her take the risk to try it out. Precious certainly has an inner curiosity about things that could make her life better, which is a hopeful sign of resilience. It is unclear what has supported the development of her curiosity, but it is clear that she wants a better life than she sees her mother having.
When Precious begins attending her alternative school, she is put in the classroom of Ms. Blu Rain (played by Paula Patton). Ms. Rain provides things for Precious that we imagine she has never had in her entire life: interactions with boundaries and encouragement. When Precious strikes out physically against another classmate that calls her “fat,” Ms. Rain asserts there is no hitting in her classroom. When Precious doubts her ability, Ms. Rain asserts she can learn to read and write. She tells her “you can do anything,” “push yourself” and “the longest journey begins with a single step.” Ms. Rain’s caring for Precious is evident when Precious needs a place to live outside her home and she helps her find a halfway house. When Precious is dejected because she has been diagnosed as HIV positive, Ms. Rain asserts that Precious must not give up and that she must “write!” For the first time, Precious has encountered a consistent and available person who genuinely cares for her and helps her take positive steps to begin taking charge of her life.
Precious encounters other positive individuals on her journey. When Precious has her second child, Abdul, Nurse John McFadden (played by Lenny Kravitz) is kind to her and gives her encouragement to stay in school. Precious’ social worker, Ms. Weiss is interested, compassionate, and concerned about her home life.
Although it is slow-going for Precious, we eventually see how her own motivation, supported by encouragement from others, pays off. Precious gradually begins to build self confidence. She becomes determined to be “a good mother, not dumb,” and reports that being in class makes her feel “here” (the antithesis of being in a dissociative state). She eventually wins an academic achievement award, as she can now read at a 7th/8th grade level. She begins to feel proud of herself, and is determined to teach her own children what she is learning by reading to them everyday. At the end of the movie when her mother discloses that she blamed Precious for being abandoned by her partner, we see how far Precious has come. She looks at her mother straight in the eye and says “I didn’t know who you was before today… you won’t see me no more.” Therapists that work with trauma survivors know how hard it is for some abused children to separate from their hopelessly abusive and pathological parents; with this action, Precious illustrates that she has developed some sense of self worth, and feels she does not deserve to be treated badly any longer.
It is hard to know all the factors that contributed to Precious’ growth, but undoubtedly the encouraging people in her life played a role by instilling in her a sense of hope, perseverance, and positive self regard. The effect of positive people on those who have suffered childhood physical and sexual abuse should never be underestimated: it supports resilience that might not have otherwise survived the constant onslaught of despair, shame, and abuse that these individuals experience. And most certainly, it illustrates the potential power that a healthy therapeutic relationship and social support can have to change our clients’ lives.
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