Light Is Right in “Precious”
I went to see Precious last week. I was going to write a general review, but one of our good readers has presented a question for discussion. Comment and share your thoughts. I hope this holds you down until we return.
I am curious to hear your thoughts about the movie Precious. I am intrigued by the casting of supporting characters Ms. Rain (Paula Patton), Mrs. Weiss (Mariah Carey), and Nurse John (Lenny Kravitz). Is it only a coincidence that all of these (savior-type) characters in this film are of mixed race and the protagonist and antagonist are Black? I am sure Lee Daniels was strategic in who he cast for each role and I cannot ignore the stark physical and racial contrast in who is good vs. who is evil in this movie. Thoughts??
First and foremost, I must say that I enjoyed the movie. Not because it was a feel-good, happy ending type flick. It was actually just to opposite. I left the theater feeling super tired and emotionally drained. The movie was filled with the painful details of the daily-life of Precious, a 16 year mother of one, and soon to be mother of two, who struggled in school and life, to say the least. At first glance, she was the kind of person most people would look at and judge for her weight and maybe even make up stories about her, and assume they could sum her up in a few words. However, you couldn’t help but feel for her as she endured being raped by her AIDS-carrying father, and the physical and emotional abuse at the hands her mother (played by Mo’Nique).
Lee Daniels, Oprah, and Tyler Perry did their thing in this movie. Now, both Tyler and Oprah have been responsible for some flops in their career, but for people who appreciate a film beyond the big names and comedic relief, this movie delivers. Everything was deliberate, like presence of the red scarf throughout the film, and the placement of posters and signs depicting certain messages. And Mo’Nique. I don’t usually rock with her like that, but she acted her behind off. She brought a believability to the role of Precious’ mother that made you forget that she usually plays the jolly thick girl who cracks mad jokes. From the way she hung the cigarette off her lip, to the pain and hatred she expressed for her own child, to the inner conflict she battled at the end, I had to remind myself at the end of the movie that she was playing a role. But on the question at hand.
In addition to all the issues involving her home life, Precious battled a demon all too familiar in the Black community: the notion that light is right. During one scene, as she was getting ready for school, Precious was looking in the mirror. Staring back at her was the reflection of a white woman, complete with blonde hair and blue eyes. Even before this though, Precious made reference to not liking her skin color, and how great things would be if she were skinny, with lighter skin and long hair. When she imagined herself with a boyfriend, he too was light skinned with “that good hair.”
It was almost like her fantasies intersected with her realities. Her teacher, played by Paula Patton, her social worker, played by Mariah Carey, and the male-nurse, played by Lenny Kravitz, were the only people who took a genuine interest in Precious. They were all nice to her. All seemed to appear just as she was ready for an improvement in her life. And all these people were fair-skinned, relatively attractive (although Mariah looked mighty tired) and are biracial (in real life). Like the reader who posed the question, I wondered if this was a casting coincidence, or was it done on purpose? I’m guessing the latter.
Even if you didn’t see the movie, you probably have thoughts on this because “Precious” isn’t the first movie to make the good guys light and the bad guys dark. Even when a movie has no Black actors, the good vs. evil can always been seen by the makeup, dress, and aura of the characters. Do you think that this film made that intentional distinction as well? What other films have done this, and why do they do it at all? Is it just restricted to movies? What about TV or music?
Right fist in the air until we return,
28 Responses to “Light Is Right in “Precious””
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Miss Jenkins.
Since this might be my last comment for awhile please forgive me as I do what I love most…
While I see ur point about “Precious”, I don’t necessarily think its the tradition of black films to paint light ppl as the good ones. I do get annoyed with all the movies about some white person coming into a black school to save the black race, but lets stick to the topic here.
I think that “people” tend to look for certain trends that might not even be there based on our own perceptions of how society sees us. For instance, when I think about black movies, I always think about how the light or white women are always the “other woman” home wreckin types that break up the main, brownskin characters’ happy home. Ie: Diary of a Mad Black Woman, This Christmas, Not Easily Broken, Obsessed, the list goes on and on. I was actually thrilled when I saw “Why Did I Get Married” and Morris Chestnut’s other woman was dark skinned.
The point I’m trying to make is that if we’re looking for something, chances are we will find it. I feel like black people (especially black women) always want to feel victimized (with good historical reason), and therefore will always find the one thing about anything that does just that. I mean, maybe in the writers/directors experience, light skinned or mixed people were always the ones to be uplifting and supportive, so they portrayed it in the film. Perhaps in someone’s experience, mixed or white women are always stealing black men, so they portray it in their films.
I think we should all take filmmaking for what its worth, and stop looking for flaws in them that may or may not have been deliberate. Its safe to say we are past the age of blacks playing crackheads and gangsters, and anything beyond that is just us feeling sorry for ourselves.
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Rox Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:04 am
Good points
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Miss Jenkins Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:38 am
Good points, but I wasn’t trying make anyone a victim. Especially because both sides are affected. Even without assuming that black (women) people are feeling victimized, I think its worth noting that Black and White films play with the light/dark distinction often.
If anything, films are often made to purposely evoke certain reactions and spark certain discussions. Lee Daniels, considering what seems to be his style (See Monster’s Ball), I think a convo, if nothing more, is fine.
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MeteorMan Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:04 pm
I agree and its not limited to films either. I want to go deeper Miss Jenkins (pause).
Hops on soap box
European-based origin of writing styles and literature analysis always have dark/black as being evil, scary, or tainted while white is always labeled as pure, innocent, clean. These stigmas have propagated throughout all art forms and over generations. Given that many parts of the world were colonized by European countries, these ideas spread. These ideas were brought to America and when Americans started going to Africa for slaves what did they say? They said the “Black” people were dirty, salvage, evil, and impure. Where did they get that mentality from? European style of literature and analysis. Why does black HAVE to be bad or evil? Why does white HAVE to be pure? I’m not saying that it was created as some huge plot against people darker than a brown paper bag. But it’s an example of indoctrination European ideas through literature. We are taught that the appearance of certain colors have certain meanings. And those writers were taught in order to given a certain meaning, use certain colors. Even though black people aren’t black, given we’re darker we automatically are considered equal to the ‘black’ depicted and taught in stories. On the flip side, when you hear old stories of European princesses they are always called the ‘fairest in the land’ meaning they have the fairest skin
complexion.Because we define the things we see in life a certain way doesn’t mean that way of thinking is absolute. A prime example would be looking at what way we were taught how to do multiplication. In other parts of the world, they do it differently. And what I say differently, I don’t mean they simply just arrange the numbers differently. I mean they use different mathematical methods/operations when ‘multiplying’ by hand to achieve the answer. Think about it… They say ‘Mathematical Logic’ was developed by anciet Greeks. But you know good and well numbers and math existed before then. It’s an intangible tool for problem solving, but that doesn’t make it truth in itself. I’m not saying it’s good or bad. It’s just what it is… Go into a Lit 101 class and say the appearance white depicts evil/impurity and watch you fail…
Hops off soap box
I could go on and on (pause). Our methods of logic are bound by the constraints made by the Greeks. It’s not the only way to solve or understand problems. Our values and understanding of the world are measured with a ruler created by old philosophers…
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Miss Jenkins Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 2:53 pm
This is why you are my e-boo. Edumacating the masses.
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Kera Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 1:58 pm
And that’s why I’m tired of movies like this…
“I feel like black people (especially black women) always want to feel victimized (with good historical reason), and therefore will always find the one thing about anything that does just that.”
I am so tired of people thinking that I want a pity party, just because the only images they see of women that look like me, are imgaes depicting horrible lives, drugs, abuse, neglect, and so on and so forth…
I also don’t like the way the screen writers turned the characters in the movie around and completly changed the message of the story.
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Miss Jenkins Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 2:54 pm
This is why I hesitated to see the movie, because I hadn’t read the book yet. But I’m working if the experience of either will be ruined now that I’ve seen teh movie first.
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Oprah and TP did have anything to do with the actual production of this film, that was solely on Lee Daniels.
After viewing the film once it started hitting the festivals like Sundance, Oprah and TP put up the funds so that the film could get a wider release. But they had nothing to do with what you see on the screen, they just made it so that you COULD see it on your local screen.
All the praise or criticism should be given to Lee Daniels, because he’s the one who made this film from jump. The NY Times Magazine has a great piece on what Daniels went through to get this film made, if anyone is interested.
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Miss Jenkins Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:33 am
Thanks for pointing that out…maybe that’s why it was so good…#noshots…?
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Wow, I didn’t even think of that while watching this! I guess because I just view halk Black folks as Black (I don’t wanna expound on this too much, as I could write a novel.) I just asked my sister who not only saw the movie, but also read the book Push, for which the movie is based. She says that in the book, “Blue Rain” has locks!
I dunno, the storyline takes place from like 1983 – 1985? I was too young at the time to remember what sorts of racial issues may have been plaguing the Black psychie, but I think the movie characters being biracial was intentional. Maybe if one of the “good guys” were Paula Patton, or whatever, then fine. But three people tends to be alot…
Who else out there has read the book, and can provide more insight on this topic and the somewhat intentional character switches?
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ditto what Jubilance said about the film–pet peeve; Oprah and TP didn’t have a hand in how the movie was made.
having said that, and having read the book the character Ms. Rain wasn’t supposed to have the “look” of Paula Patton–she was a bit more hippie with locs and I believe brown skin, but outside of that I take no issue with the casting. it reflected the POV of Precious, and she wanted a light skinned man with “good hair” it was the 80s and thats when Al B. Sure and other light men were “in”. LOL. no but seriously, like Joey said, while I have an issue with white saviors films, I don’t really have an issue with Precious. I’m sure it was intentional, but thats fine considering her mentality.
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I was supposed to see Precious this weekend, but I’m waiting so I can see it with my mom and sisters over the holiday. Definitely the perfect movie to remind us that we are blessed, and we have many reasons to be thankful this Thankdgiving.
As for the color thing, I think it is probably intentional based on the decade in which the film is set. However, I think going in a different direction with at least one darker “savior” would have been a good juxtaposition to Precious’ color issues. It would have been a way to address some of her issues and disprove her beliefs about light skin/dark skin if one of her saviors actually looked like her. Or at least close to it.
But, like I said, I haven’t seen the movie yet, so what do I know….
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I saw the flick yesterday. I shed no tears. I was a man. I remained a man throughout. I still have my G-Card.
Excellent movie though. I walked out of the movie thinkin’ to myself “Damn, I guess I really can’t complain much”. Then about 20 minutes after that, I was like “Eff that! Yes I can!”
The skin complexion thing is interesting. It’s something I would never have thought about had I not heard/seen other folks making mention to it. I was too focused on how eff’ed up her life was and waiting for her to get clocked in the head with a frying pan at any moment.
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I haven’t seen the movie (yet), but I’ve heard this issue discussed before. And it’s not the first movie to have this distinction. It’s happened in other Black and “mainstream” movies.
If it’s in the book and the movie, I would bet that it’s intentional. Plays up the juxtaposition of the characters and it probably adds to the main characters confusion and inner conflict with her own skin tone.
But that’s a purely voyeuristic comment.
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I ain’t seent Precious yet (I will soon) so I am saddened by both the fact that I can’t read today’s post as it maybe be spoilerific and because this is the last post here for a while. FML.
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I read the book and saw the movie. I really wanted to like the movie, but when I think about it, I have more reasons to dislike it based on having read the book first. A lot of what the book captured was either ignored or downplayed in the movie. Without the context of certain portrayls the book captures, the movie becomes a mere series of hard-luck stories. Although I must say that I missed the fact that all of the people who helped Precious were light skinned in my criticims of the movie. When I think hard about it, I am really disappointed in the movie, and here is why…
In the book, Precious was all the things that are often overlooked and ignored in this society. She was overweight, illiterate, dark-skin and lonely. She had no one who cared about her. While this was captured in the movie, the movie failed to capture just how much it meant to Precious when people actually began to show they cared about her. For instance, in the book Precious became overwhelmed with joy so much so that she began crying when she realized that girls in the class were nice to her. She stated that no one had ever been nice to her before. No one. In the movie, you don’t feel how much it means to her to have others show they care. Without that, it’s hard for the viewer to actually feel what it must be like for Precious. In the movie, she comes across as having a sense of humor and she is instantly able to associate with the girls in her class, the male nurse, her teacher. You see Precious make jokes with others. However, this is a girl who has never had anyone. She is socially immature. She doesn’t know how to interact with others. Yet the movies makes it seem as if she does while missing the complexity of her character altogether.
Another criticism of mine is that while Monique did an excellent job as playing Precious’ mother, her character was somewhat watered down. In the book, Precious’ mom is severely overweight (Precious estimates that her mother is at least 100 pounds heavier than herself), she doesn’t wash, and basically doesn’t move. However, in the movie you see a woman, that while overweight, does make some attempt to present herself as attractive, no matter how misguided these attempts. You see her dancing in the floor doing what she must consider a sexy dance and you don’t see how solvenly the woman really was in the book. Portraying the mother in this way waters down the ugliness of the character.
Lastly, and what disappointed me the most was the male nurse. In the book, this was a female nurse who made the empty promise to Precious to protect her from the abuse at the hands of her father the first time she gave birth to her daughter. Then when she is re-admitted to give birth to her second child by her father, she is regretful again. But nothing is done to keep Precious out of harms way. This is an important message that was omitted in the movie because it communicates how lost and alone this girl was and that people made promises to her that were not kept. Instead, they enlist an attractive man to pay attention to her, when in the book, this was a girl that was completely invisible to the world. She imagines herself as white girl so that she might not be invisible anymore. Having the male nurse pay her attention goes against one of the main themes of the book: that being overweight, dark-skin and illiterate in America makes you essentially invisible.
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Reecie Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 2:14 pm
reading this made me not even want to see the movie. but I will. I hate when movies don’t show the greatness of the book–even though I know its hard, and its done SO often…
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There is a damn good chance somebody has made this point, so I apologize if that’s the case but once I read all these comments I’m sure to forget my own damn point. (I love and loathe the level of intelligence of the average 3 Ways commenter)
While Sapphire describes Blu Rain as dark with dreads, I wonder in a way if Lee Daniels considered using all these “light bright and extra right” characters to reinforce where Precious got her desire to be such, from. I mean, how else would someone not well-versed in color issues within the black community even begin to understand (and still, that has a high chance of going right over their heads).
I liked the movie, but due to the company I had at the theater, I may have to go see it again.
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I think people are confusing the color issues that arise from the complexions of the cast with Precious’ own color issues. I saw the movie and did notice the use of light skin v. dark skin in the movie. Especially since Paula Patton’s character is brown skin with locks in the book.
I thought it was a good movie overall, but I couldn’t help thinking afterwards that the dark skinned people didn’t have any redeeming qualities in the movie. By redeeming qualities, I mean something to admire or adore as a viewer. I guess Precious’ resilience is one, but other than that there isn’t really anything in terms of dark skinned characters. Now maybe Lee Daniels was trying to use the complexion of the cast members as symbolism of Precious’ perception of the world with her own color issues, but I don’t think that was necessary to tell this story.
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Miss Jenkins Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 2:51 pm
I agree. If that was the point he was trying to make, it was lost.
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I haven’t read all of the comments, so I don’t know if someone else has already said this, but color and colorism plays a large part in Precious’ self hatred in the book. She sees Black as bad and ugly and she sees White and light-skinned as good and beautiful. The book makes this very clear. The book also says that Ms. Rain is dark-skinned with dread locks. She (Ms. Rain) is supposed to break (or at least present some weakness in) Precious’ color-based theory. So yes, I do take issue with the fact that Paula Patton was cast in this role b/c it takes away from that aspect of Precious’ struggle (and there were several).
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As a light skin sistah, I feel some type of way :/! Are only darker skin women and men allowed to be the saving grace for darker skin children?! I wonder if other cultures have this issue in their movies. Do they think one subgroup amongst the group is getting too much or not enough shine/recognition? As a woman who teaches in the inner city, I teach a lotta brown children. I dare someone to tell me to step aside and let a browner sistah be a mentor to these children! I thought the most important picture was that the folks in the movie were African American, regardless of how much melanin their skin had. I understand that bc of the concept of the movie, certain characteristics had to be casted; but, generally speaking, I’m sick of trying to prove that Im just as black as the dark sistah! Sorry if I’m not dark enough and that it makes thhaaaatt much of a big deal.
oh, and my mom is dark, very dark. I happen to take after my father. I hated being the only light skin person on my mother’s side of the family and I would color myself deep brown as a child. My mom saved one of my pictures.
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Miss Jenkins Reply:
November 24th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
I appreciate your work wit da kids!!
I definitely wasn’t trying to say that only dark skinned people to teach and save black children…I’m just saying that in the movies, they are usually not shown as doing such. And apparently, the director went out of his way to cast someone who looked different than the character in the book. #justsayin.
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Wow….
there really is no new post today. I thought Slim was kidding. It was some weird prank…
what the hell do we do now?
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I feel like K-Fed today…yall broke up with me through email and shit…damn
Ummm I’m not going to watch Precious, thanks everyone (blogsphere) for ruining the movie for me…I will just wait until I can get a hold of the really good bootleg copy and cry at home on the couch while waiting 4 3ways to come back to me.
How come nobody is talking about Morgan Freeman’s Prom Night???? I wonder why………
Bye 3ways fam…best wishes for 2010 & beyond
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I watched Precious today… on bootleg. There is a great ‘For Consideration’ DVD rip floating around the internets.
I thought it was a good movie. Can’t say I loved it or it changed me. But it was very good and I would recommend it(although I do have this odd need to vote Republican). Anyway.. I re-read the comments today just to add to the movie experience, I’m shocked no one mentioned the fact that both her kids were lighted skinned. Even though the father didn’t seem light (hard to tell his color b/c you only see him giving out the slow stroke Precious in the dark). So how did two dark skinned people make two light babies? Maybe its in Precious’ mind. Just my idea based on what everyone else has said but maybe she sees the kids as being good and pure so they are lighter skinned.
????
Monique for Oscar? IDK, maybe. We have to see who her competition is for supporting actress. But with a push from Oprah she should at least get nominated.
And there were some timeline faults. Some of the songs he used were from the 1990s, even though the movie took place in ’87. But the only people who probably noticed that were me and Bobby Brown, so don’t let that take away from the movie. I didn’t read the book, but I heard the book is tied to the year. The movie isn’t, I felt the movie could have taken place in 2007 and been just as good.
Also the part of Joanna was meant for Nicki Manaj. Anyway.. I missed threeways and I’m just trying to scratch my itch.
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Slim Jackson Reply:
November 30th, 2009 at 8:59 am
Aw man Cheekz. The last part of your comment almost made me shed a tear.lol. We’ll be back homie. We will be back.
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I am so sick and tired of dark-skinned people acting as if I have commited some personal offense against them for being light-skinned with wavy hair. It is amazing that in the year 2010 , black people are the most prejuduced of all. Be mad at the ones who caused us as a people to learn to hate and turn against eachother.
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