Precious Movie Based on Young Adult Novel Push

African American Author’s Women in Poverty Story Hits Movie Theaters

Oct 20, 2009

The young adult novel, Push has been adapted into the movie, Precious Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire and will be released in movie theaters in November, 2009.

Internet message boards are buzzing with posts from teens and adults in anticipation of this year’s riveting and long titled movie, Precious Based on the young adult Novel Push by Sapphire. The Precious movie trailer evokes strong emotions from viewers as it depicts the fictional story of Claireece “Precious” Jones, one of many African American women in poverty. Precious will draw teens, educators and parents to the move theater box office this fall.

“I got suspended from school ‘cause I’m pregnant which I don’t think is fair. I ain’ did nothin’!” thinks Precious in the first chapter of Push, a Novel. Written for the young adult audience, Precious’ story of hope for women in poverty is set in Harlem, New York. African American author, Sapphire crafted the novel using street language and diction that is true to Harlem life. Filled with harsh expletives and cursing, the book offers readers the raw deal perspective of an illiterate, HIV positive teen struggling through various forms of abuse at home.

Published in 1996, Push, a Novel was Sapphire’s first novel and won the 1997 First Novelist Award from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. A revised young adult “movie Tie-in edition” of Sapphire’s novel is entitled Precious based on the Novel Push by Sapphire and is now available from booksellers.

The film, backed by a team of producers including Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry received rave reviews at 2009 film festivals. Three awards at the Sundance Film Festival and the audience choice award at the Toronto International Film Festival have teens and adults waiting impatiently for the November, 2009 limited release in movie theaters.

Geoffrey Fletcher (under pseudonym Damien Paul) creatively adapted the “women in poverty” novel, Push into a screenplay that allows viewers brief escapes from the painful life of Precious, who is pregnant for the second time at age 16, a victim of molestation. Fletcher’s screenplay adaptation alternates dark scenes of Precious’ daily abuse with MTV© type music video representations of Precious’ fantasy life. The movie cast includes newcomer Gabourey Sidibe (who plays the role of Precious), comedienne Mo’Nique, Lenny Kravitz and Mariah Carey.

Move Portrays African American Women in Poverty

According to viewers at the Toronto International Film Festival, the raw scenes leave no scar implied on the main character, Precious, an overweight African American teen girl. The realities of teen pregnancy, illiteracy and abuse displayed on a larger than life screen will be eye opening for both parents and adolescents. Apparently the scenes is so riveting that some viewers felt they were watching a documentary instead of a screenplay.

The Precious movie trailer alone offers a unique perspective into the life of one African American teen growing up in Harlem and the extra challenges faced by young women in poverty. Precious will be in movie theaters in limited release November 6, 2009, followed by expanded release in select cities. The Precious website offers location details and ticket purchase information.

The copyright of the article Precious Movie Based on Young Adult Novel Push in Teen Culture is owned by Kelly Pfeiffer. Permission to republish Precious Movie Based on Young Adult Novel Push in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.