discussion guide developed by heartland truly moving ... · mariah carey, sherri shepherd, lenny...

DISCUSSION GUIDE

Developed by Heartland Truly Moving Pictures to accompany Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, recipient of the Truly Moving Picture Award, an

honored distinction given to films that unlock the vast potential of the human spirit and enable us to view stories that display courage, integrity and hope,

taking entertainment to a higher level.

TrulyMovingPictures.org

WeAreAllPrecious.com

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Table of Contents

Introduction.............................................................................................2

DiscussionQuestions

FromtheBooktotheScreen...............................................3

WeAreAllPrecious..............................................................4

TakeAction...........................................................................5

MovingMoments...................................................................................6

Nurse John (Lenny Kravitz) and Precious (Gabourey Sidibe) in PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL ‘PUSH’ BY SAPPHIRE. Photo credit: Anne Marie Fox

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One Film Can

HeartlandTrulyMovingPictures,anon-profitorganization,recognizesandhonorsfilmmakerswhoseworkexploresthehumanjourneybyexpressinghopeandrespectforthepositivevaluesoflife.Webelievethatonefilmcanmoveustolaughter,totears,ortomakeadifference.Precious: Based on the Novel Push by SapphireisafilmthatdemonstratesthatOneFilmCan.

Synopsis

LeeDaniels’Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphireisavibrant,honestandresoundinglyhopefulfilmaboutthehumancapacitytogrowandovercome.

SetinHarlemin1987,itisthestoryofClaireece“Precious”Jones(GaboureySidibe),asixteen-year-oldAfrican-Americangirlbornintoalifenoonewouldwant.She’spregnantforthesecondtimebyherabsentfather;athome,shemustwaithandandfootonhermother(Mo’Nique),apoisonouslyangrywomanwhoabusesheremotionallyandphysically.Schoolisaplaceofchaos,andPrecioushasreachedtheninthgradewithgoodmarksandanawfulsecret:shecanneitherreadnorwrite.

Preciousmaysometimesbedown,butsheisneverout.Beneathherimpassiveexpressionisawatchful,curiousyoungwomanwithaninchoatebutunshakeablesensethatotherpossibilitiesexistforher.Threatenedwithexpulsion,Preciousisofferedthechancetotransfertoanalternativeschool,EachOne/TeachOne.Preciousdoesn’tknowthemeaningof“alternative,”butherinstinctstellherthisisthechanceshehasbeenwaitingfor.IntheliteracyworkshoptaughtbythepatientyetfirmMs.Rain(PaulaPatton),Preciousbeginsajourneythatwillleadherfromdarkness,painandpowerlessnesstolight,loveandself-determination.

AnOfficialSelectionatthe2009CannesFilmFestival-UnCertainRegard,andwinnerofthreeawardsatthe2009SundanceFilmFestivalincludingtheGrandJuryPrizeandAudienceAwardintheU.S.DramaticCompetition,Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by SapphirestarsMo’Nique,PaulaPatton,MariahCarey,SherriShepherd,LennyKravitzandintroducingGaboureySidibe.

LionsgateinassociationwithOprahWinfreyandTylerPerrypresentALeeDanielsEntertainment/SmokewoodEntertainmentGroupProductionofPrecious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire,directedbyLeeDanielsfromascreenplaybyGeoffreyFletcherbasedonthenovelPushbySapphire.

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From the Book to the Screen

In1996,PushbythepoetSapphirewaspublishedasahardcoverbyAlfredA.Knopf,Inc.Thisgroundbreakingnovelwaswelcomedtocriticalacclaim.Itisrenownedinliterarycirclesforitsin-depthlookatalifenottypicallycelebratedinliteratureormediaandfortheuniquewritingstylethatdefinesPrecious’voice.

SapphirebasedthecharacterofPreciousonanadultstudentshetaughtinHarleminthe1980s.ThestoryshespunforPreciousisacombinationofdifferentpeople’slifeexperiences.

GeoffreyFletcher,screenwriterforPrecious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire,tookSapphire’snovelandmadetheleaptothescreen.WhilethescreenplayistruetoSapphire’snovel,italsoaddselementstobringtheaudiencedeeperintoPrecious’life.

Discussion Questions:

•Boththewritinginthenovelandtheopeningcreditsinthefilmareunique.Howdidthestyleinwhichthesewerewrittenimpactyou?

•DoesknowingthatthestoryisbasedontheauthorSapphire’sexperienceteachinginHarlemandthestudentsshemetimpactyourappreciationofthestory?How?

•WhatthemesandissuesdoyoubelievePrecious’storyintendstoshedlightupon?Why?

•ThemalenursecharacterplayedbyLennyKravitzinthefilmissomethingthatwasnotinthebook.Whatelementdoyoubelievethischaracteraddstothemovie?

•ThoughthisstoryissetinHarlemin1987,whataboutthefilmistruetotoday?Whathaschanged?

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We Are All Precious

ThemoviePrecious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphirespeakstothefactthatweareallprecious.Whetheritisonesabilitytoovercomesomethinghorribleorfindingsomethingpowerfulinoneselfheorshedidn’tknowexistedortherealizationthatone’sselfworthisfargreaterthanheorsheeverknew,everyoneisprecious.

Discussion Questions:

OnthecharacterPrecious,actressGabbySidibesays,“She’ssweet,butatthesametimeshe’slearnedtobedefensive.Whenthere’stroublecoming,she’sreadyforit.She’sawarrior,Ithink.”

Excerpted from “Precious Production Notes”

•WhattypeofpersondoyoubelievePreciousis?Basedonthecircumstancesinherlife,whatwouldyouexpectfromPrecious?

•WhataboutPrecious’characterleadshertoovercomehersituationandnotbecomplacent?

•IsPreciousamovieaboutwhatweallcanovercomeorisitmerelyanexaminationonegirl’slifeandcircumstances?Why?

•CanyourelatetoPreciousorherlife?Inwhatway?

•Thebookandmoviearevirtuallyfreeofmen.WhatmessagedoesthissendyouaboutrolesofmenandwomeninPrecious’life?

•Whataretherolesofmenandwomen,fathersandmothers,sistersandbrother,andfriendsinyourlife?

•Whatistheroleyouplayinother’slives?

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Take Action

Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphireisafilmthatshedslightonmanyissues,rangingfromsexualabusetotheeducationsystemtoHIV/AIDS,andeverythinginbetween.WithoutthehelpofsomeindividualswhoinvestedtheirtimeandcareinPrecious’well-being,Preciousmaynothavefoundherwayoutofthecycleofabuseinwhichshewasliving.

Discussion Points

•DidPrecious’storymakeyouthinkaboutwhatyourroleistothosearoundyou,nomatterhowwellyouknowthem?Doyoufeelaresponsibilitytoassistothers?•LiketheinvestmentoftimethatBluRainmakesinPrecious,whatinvestmenthaveyoumadeinsomeone’slife?Ifyouhaven’tmadethatinvestment,whatisstoppingyou?

•Hassomeonemadetheinvestmentinyou?Who?

Get Involved

•LikeBluRainwastoPrecious,howcanyoubeamentorinsomeone’slife?LookatorganizationsinyourcommunitysuchasBigBrothersandBigSistersofAmericaorMENTOR.

Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Americawww.bbbs.org

MENTORwww.mentoring.org

•Precious’situationisonethatmakespeopleconfronttherealitiesofsexualabuse.HowcanyougetinvolvedtomakesurethatPrecious’storyisonethatdoesn’tcontinuetohappentootherchildrenaroundtheworld?

Learn more about what you can do to help:

www.darkness2light.org

www.stopitnow.org

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Moving Moments

Precious: Based on the Novel Push by SapphirehasbeenhonoredasaHeartlandTrulyMovingPictureAward-winningfilm.ThisawardwascreatedtohonorfilmsreleasedtheatricallythatalignwithHeartland’smissiontorecognizeandhonorfilmmakerswhoseworkexploresthehumanjourneybyartisticallyexpressinghopeandrespectforthepositivevaluesoflife.

Theseaward-winningmoviesaremadeupofmovingandinspiringmoments—thosemomentsthatcauseyoutothink,seesomethinginyourlifedifferently,beinspiredtodosomething.It’swhatmakesthemovieanditsmessageremainwithyouwellafteryou’veleftthetheater.

ThinkaboutPrecious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire.Whatwerethemomentsthatstoodouttoyou?Howdidtheymakeyoufeel?Howwilltheycauseyoutothinkaboutthingsdifferentlyinthefuture?SharethosemovingmomentswithothersatTrulyMovingPictures.org.Simplylogin,orcreateanaccountifyoudon’talreadyhaveone,andsearchthemovielistforPrecious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire.Youcanleaveyourrevieworcommentsaboutthisfilmunderthe“Review”section.

GaboureySidibestarsas‘Claireece“Precious”Jones’in PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL ‘PUSH’ BY SAPPHIRE. Photocredit:AnneMarieFox