ArtsHub

The story of a chronically abused and illiterate young woman who refuses to let life grind her down, Precious – or Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, to give the film its full, unwieldy title – is a starkly powerful film by gay African-American director Lee Daniels. Claireece Precious Jones (Gabourey ‘Gabby’ Sidibe in a debut performance of rare subtlety and dignity) is an unlikely but memorable survivor: an obese 16 year old who is pregnant to her own abusive father for the second time, and the constant target of her mother’s terrifying and misplaced rage. School offers no respite; Precious can barely read or write, and she is about to be expelled. Her only escape is a rich imagination, a fantasy life in which Precious is a diva, rich, successful, and admired and desired by all; the exact opposite of her daily life, in which everyone around her is all to quick to make it known that Precious is worthless, stupid and despised. Just when her life seems utterly without hope, Precious is offered a lifeline in the form of literacy classes at an Alternative School where she not only learns to read and write, but to believe in herself and have hope for the future, thanks to the support of her teacher, Ms Rain (Paula Patton) and a stern but committed social worker (a de-glamourised Mariah Carey). There have been many films about inspiring teachers and the transforming powers of hope and imagination – think Dead Poet’s Society (1989), To Sir, With Love (1967) Stand and Deliver (1988) and The Blackboard Jungle (1955) to name just a few – but none of them come close to capturing the terror and brutality of the life our titular heroine is so desperate to leave behind in Precious. The film’s grim nature may put some people off, and certainly the cavalcade of misery Precious lives through is difficult to stomach, but while director Lee Daniel doesn’t skimp on the grim details of the story, he also imbues the film with a palpable sense of grace. In a lesser director’s hand Precious could have been mawkish and melodramatic; instead, he has given us a study in restraint. Daniel’s light touch allows audiences to find their own route through this tale of woe, avoiding overly-telegraphed scenes and heavy-handed musical cues, and ensuring that any emotional response one has to the film is authentic rather than forced. Equally impressive is Daniel’s work with the performers. He is clearly an actor’s director, and coaxes brilliant performances from all his cast, even Mariah Carey, whose previous track record as an actor has been poor to say the least. But while all the cast are excellent, the two most remarkable performances in the film are those of Gabourey Sidibe as the sullen, inward-looking Precious, and comedian-turned-actor Mo’Nique, as Mary, the most terrifying and hateful mother ever portrayed on screen. Remarkably, in the film’s gut-wrenching penultimate scene, Mo’Nique manages to make the audience sympathise with Mary, even as she reveals just how black the character’s bitter soul really is. Having already won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Precious, Mo’Nique is a sure-fire bet to pick up an Academy Award for the same performance. Sidibe – an untrained actor who was studying for a degree in psychology at the time she auditioned for the film – is equally mesmerizing as Precious, whose blank gaze, anger and silence are her only protection against a brutal world. Precious is not a comfortable ride – it will scour your soul and leave you feeling raw and exposed – but it will also renew your sense of hope and move you to tears as you watch the painful rebirth of its central character. Precious opens nationally on February 4. Advance screenings January 29 – 31. PRECIOUS (Based on the novel Push by Sapphire) Directed by Lee Daniels Screenplay by Damien Paul Director of Photography Andrew Dunn Production Designer Rochelle Berliner Produced by Lee Daniels, Sarah Siegel-Magness and Gary Magness Stars Gabourey Sidibe, Mo’Nique, Mariah Carey, Paula Patton and Lenny Kravitz Review By Richard Watts - ArtsHub | Wednesday, January 27, 2010

PRESS RELEASE COURTESY MALTHOUSE Marion Potts is one of Australia’s most outstanding theatre practitioners. She has worked with many of the country’s finest theatre companies and is currently Bell Shakespeare’s Associate Artistic Director and Artistic Director of its development arm, Mind’s Eye. Marion was Resident Director for Sydney Theatre Company from 1995-1999, and Artistic Director of Pulse (STC) from 1997-1999. She curated the 2003 National Playwrights’ Conference, was a chairperson of World Interplay and a member of the Theatre Board of the Australia Council, and has collaborated with Malthouse Theatre under the directorship of Michael Kantor on a number of occasions. Marion said “I am a longstanding fan of Malthouse and have admired Michael’s ability to carve out a place of audacity and true artistic daring. My own work has always been driven by the high aspirations I have for Australian artists and their ability to wrestle with big and dangerous ideas – typically with curiosity, irreverence and invention. Work undertaken at Malthouse will continue to be part of our collective quest to identify who we are and what we value. The chance to lead such an important company, to create work that can have a real impact on our city, our region and our culture as a whole is a both a joy and an enormous privilege.” The appointment has come after a rigorous four month recruitment process following Michael Kantor’s announcement of his departure in September 2009. A selection panel comprising Simon Westcott, Chairman, Malthouse Theatre; Ian McRae, AO Board Member; Sigrid Thornton, actor and Board Member, Rosemary Myers, Artistic Director, Windmill Theatre, Richard Evans, CEO Sydney Opera House, and John Bayliss, ex Director, Theatre, Australia Council for the Arts made their decision last week. Simon Westcott, Chairman of the Selection Panel and Malthouse Theatre said, “The Malthouse Theatre board is thrilled that Marion is joining as our new Artistic Director. Marion's vision for the next evolution of the Malthouse - a vision of risk, rigour and quest - gripped and excited the Selection Panel from the beginning of the process to its tough but happy conclusion. Marion's extensive and exquisite body of work at Bell, STC and for many other of Australia's top theatre companies speaks for itself; in the last couple of years, she has also been a rich and highly respected collaborator with the Malthouse under Michael's directorship. Marion will lead the Malthouse fearlessly and from the front; it's a privilege and a pleasure to have the opportunity to be working more closely with her. The Selection Committee would also like to thank an incredibly strong field of candidates for the post for making their job so tough but engaging.” Marion’s first season for Malthouse Theatre will be presented in 2011. She will alternate her time between Melbourne and Sydney as she continues to work with Bell Shakespeare throughout 2010, relocating permanently to Melbourne by January 2011, when she will commence full time with the company. Michael Kantor, current Artistic Director of Malthouse theatre said “I am thrilled with the appointment of Marion to steer the good ship Malthouse into new and exciting waters. She is an artist whose directorial work I have long admired as she intrinsically understands and expertly manages the broad collaboration of artistic forces that come together to make the stage sparkle with ideas, wit and charm. She has long championed new work and in particular new writing and new forms, and at the same time has a rigorous and broad reaching appreciation of the classic texts that make up our shared theatrical histories. Malthouse Theatre holds an enviable reputation for being the bedrock of Australian Contemporary Theatre and has increasingly taken the theatre forged in this firmament to the world. Her programming choices and her own work will continue to expand and evolve the ever changing theatrical wonderland that is Malthouse and will astound and enrich the theatre going audiences of Melbourne and Australia. I have loved every minute of my time as Artistic Director of Malthouse, and I am sure she will love every minute too!”