Today, we’re diving into the captivating movie called “Precious,” set in New York in 1987, starring our brave protagonist, Claireece Jones. Claireece, who once had a love for math and even had a crush on a fair-skinned guy, now finds herself disengaged and disconnected.
She daydreams about her math teacher, whom she imagines as her supportive husband, hoping for a brighter future. Things take a serious turn when she defends Mr. Vicar from a rude classmate, leading to a concerning situation. At just 16 years old, Claireece faces the shocking reality of being pregnant for the second time, risking expulsion from school.
We’ll soon discover the harsh upbringing Claireece endured, facing constant abuse from her mother and the troubling truth behind her pregnancies. In moments of violence, she escapes into fantasy, imagining herself as a celebrity. While her mother is asleep, Claireece cooks a bunch of unhealthy, greasy food. Later, the headmistress attempts to visit their home to discuss Claireece’s studies, but her mother drives her away to maintain her unemployment benefits. Worried about her child’s future, she suggests an alternative school with a personalized program. A thoughtful girl, Claireece narrowly avoids being hit by a frying pan during an outburst from her mother. Her mom’s anger and blame never seem to end, even accusing her of bringing a “white goat” (meaning troublemaker) to their house and suggesting her man is cheating on her. In an upsetting moment, Claireece’s mom lashes out and beats her. However, amidst the turmoil, Mr. Vicar confesses his love to her. Meanwhile, Mary, Claireece’s mother, spends her days glued to the TV, constantly smoking and dancing around.
The next day, Claireece’s hand instinctively reaches for the pack of cigarettes and the remote control. It’s her first time visiting an alternative school, located on the 11th floor of a high-rise building. In the reception room, she’s asked to take a test to determine her class, but Claireece confesses that she doesn’t know the answers to any questions. On her way home, she faces bullying, with one of them pushing her due to her appearance and skin color. Feeling insecure, she sees herself as a white-skinned fashionista in the mirror. Finding no food in the fridge, she goes to a cafe and orders a bucket of chicken without any side dish to watch her weight. With no money, she hastily leaves the cafe, just missing out on the last chicken leg that another student eats.
Later, the teacher invites her to join the class, consisting of Black and Hispanic girls. Each student introduces themselves, and Claireece, feeling downtrodden, dreams of pursuing her music career with a certificate from this school. During the class activity, Claireece loses her temper, hitting a girl who mocks her for her weight. The teacher asks her to read, only to discover that she cannot read at all. In the evening, her mother scolds her again and dismisses the importance of school. Mary disapproves of Claireece’s cooking and forces her to eat pork legs, even though she’s not hungry. Trying to escape her challenging reality, Claireece envisions herself and her mother as heroines in an Italian drama, attempting to explain that she doesn’t want to eat.
A social worker, Mrs. Weiss, questions Claireece about her life at home, where she dreams of having a TV in her room. Mary’s fixation on the lottery and Claireece’s weight further add to the strained household, where Mary spends her days eating and watching TV.
Claireece’s first child is named Mango, and she lives with her grandmother, who only brings her out when a social worker visits to get food stamps. During a conversation with the social worker, Mary acts sweet, but once the woman leaves, she cruelly throws back her granddaughter and calls her an animal. Mrs. Weiss asks about the child’s father, knowing that Claireece got pregnant twice by her own father and never went to the hospital for her first child’s birth, which happened on the kitchen floor. Their conversation brings Mrs. Weiss to tears.
On another day, each student is given the task of keeping a diary and reading it in front of everyone. When it’s Claireece’s turn, she starts having contractions. She names the baby boy Abdel General Lewis and classmates visit her. Claireece contemplates dropping out of school to care for Abdul, but Boyerian advises her to think about her future and continue learning. Back home, Mary is disinterested and glued to the TV. Claireece asks her to hold Abdul, but Mary rudely throws the child on the sofa and accuses her of stealing her husband and benefits. Claireece fights back and smashes her TV before running downstairs with Abdul.
To find a new home, Miss Boyerian takes Claireece in, providing warmth and care. Claireece settles in a rehabilitation center and focuses on Abdul’s development while planning to reunite with Mango. Mary shows up to report her father’s death from AIDS, and Claireece learns she’s HIV positive. She must stop breastfeeding Abdul, but Miss Boeherion assures her that love for her children, including Abdul, is real.
Claireece’s meetings with the social worker continue, and she realizes the importance of education to provide for her children. Mary insists on reuniting, but Claireece confronts her about the abuse she endured. Mary tries to justify her actions, blaming the child, but Claireece stands up for herself and decides to move forward without her. The movie concludes with Claireece walking through the city with her children, showing her determination to create a better life for them.
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