I went to see 'Precious' last night with some friends. And I have to say, I was a bit taken aback by how affected I was by the movie.
Most of you know me - usually after a movie, I can't wait to talk about it. I love hearing other people's opinions, discussing the plot, the acting, whatever. It's all part of the movie-going experience for me!
But last night, I could hardly even speak when we left the theater. The usual banter - "Whaty'd think? Wasn't Mo'Nique amazing?" - I just couldn't form the words to speak about it.
Some of my friends were saying how the movie made them "appreciate what they have" or how they'll be more patient with their kids...Well, these women were light years ahead of where I was when I left the theater. I was truly haunted by Mo'Nique's portrayal of Precious' mother. Honestly, it deeply affected me.
I thought about it all last night. Had a hard time getting through American Idol, that's for sure.
I know a lot of people say things like, "Why are movies like this even made? I don't want to/need to see all that depressing stuff. What's the Point?" But for me, personally, I think we owe it to the real life victims of abuse to open our eyes, our ears, our hearts and our minds - allow ourselves some momentary discomfort so that we may hear their stories. Understand their stories. FEEL their stories in our bones. Because although "Precious" may be fictional, for so many girls (and boys) out there, her story is not.
So for awhile last night, I had a very heavy heart. I wallowed a bit, I'll admit it. Quite frankly, as a mother, I just was so horrified by the abuse that was portrayed. I think that especially after becoming a mother myself, my threshold for handling children in pain is markedly lower. And to see another mother treating her child the way this woman does, well... it's horrifying. That's the only word I can think of to describe it.
(You can probably tell that at this point, I wasn't exactly giving this movie my "thumbs up.")
And then it occurred to me - this movie wasn't just about the abuse Precious endured. That wasn't her whole story. What I needed to focus on, instead, was what she did after the abuse. How she found the strength and courage to be a better mother to her children than the mother she had. How she chose to rewrite her story, to change her pattern. So for me, THAT was the point. To see that, to understand that, to feel THAT in my bones.
It took me a little longer to get there, but now that I've realized that, I can join my friends on the side of looking at what this story can teach me about my life - what it can teach me to value more, to appreciate and hold tightly. It does make you want to hug your kids a little closer and be grateful for your own good fortune.
So, will 'Precious' occupy a spot on my DVD shelf? Probably not. But am I glad I saw it? Yes. Better yet, do I think you should see it? Absolutely. It is a story that needs to be heard.
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