Literature in Film Blog #2: "Precious"

"Precious" 

I have always been interested in the titles chosen for movies, books, and poems. Without even reading the book, poem, or watching the movie, we catch a glimpse of what something can be about. Also, we may even be able to see a possible theme within the work of art. The original title for the novel is Push. However, the film’s title is “Precious” I wonder if Sapphire had any say in what the movie could be titled, or if she had any preference.  Regardless, both titles carry a significant amount of meaning on their own. Although, I would like to read the novel eventually and see a compounded significance between the two. My best guess about the book title is that precious had two children, Mongo and Abdul. It reminds me of the movies where women are giving birth and the nurse tells them to push and give that last ounce of strength they have. Throughout the movie, Claireece has had to push through her difficulties: the abuse she receives from her mother, being raped by her father, and the feeling of non acceptance everywhere she walks.

The gravity within the title of the movie appears when we see Claireece transform from herself, to Precious. Well, that is her middle name. However, by the end of the novel she is a completely different and stronger person, with a more positive outlook on life. At the end of the movie she finds out her father dies from AIDS and she is HIV positive, but she doesn't give up there. She stands up to her mother in the welfare office and tells her that she’ll never be seen by her again. Precious strives to take care of her kids and continue her education.