Lee Daniels' 'Precious' Moment
The gritty director turns an inner-city literary legend into an act of global warming.
Editor's note: West Philly's Lee Daniels directed Precious: Based On The Novel Push By Sapphire to wide acclaim last year. Tuesday morning, it was announced as one of 10 nominees for Best Picture Oscar -- and Daniels himself was nominated for his directing job. In November, PW profiled Daniels.
Lee Daniels exudes confidence when talking about his latest film, Precious, which finally hits Philly—after opening in select cities across the country last week—this Friday. It’s as if he knows this story about an obese, ugly, dark-skinned teenage girl from the ghetto—whose father repeatedly rapes her—is going to impact the lives of millions.
“That truly was my intention, to change how one perceives incest,” says Daniels. “We see Precious in Philly every day on the El, on the bus, 42nd Street to everywhere. She’s there. She’s with my cousins. She’s deep in my family. She’s everywhere, but we are ignoring her.”
The film is based on the 1996 urban literary legend Push, a novel by poet Sapphire. Back in the day when girls in the suburbs were reading Judy Blume books, around-the-way girls in the inner-city were passing around Push , a timeless depiction of life in the ghetto: poverty, child abuse, illiteracy, damaged souls ... The adaptation closely parallels the powerful and heart-gripping story of main character Precious, played by newcomer Gabourey “Gabby” Sidibe, a 350-pound illiterate teenager who’s about to give birth to her second child by her father, all the while enduring verbal, physical and sexual abuse doled out by her mother Mary, played by actress, comedian and talk show host Mo’Nique.
It’s a story that Daniels, who has been open about the physical abuse he suffered at the hands of his father while growing up, says he had to tell.
“When I read it, it ripped me open. It ripped me raw,” he says. Daniels was given the book about 11 years ago by actress Ally Sheedy’s mother, a literary agent in New York City.
“It left me in a place where my guts were upside down. My mouth was open. Every other page was like, ‘Oh my God this isn’t happening. I’ve got to turn this into a movie.’”
It’s a beautifully warm Monday in October, a welcome treat considering the long rainy weekend Daniels spent promoting the film. As he makes his way inside the green room at CBS 3 TV, it’s clear the filmmaker—sporting a loosely buttoned beige shirt, blue jeans and brown leather shoes with the laces untied—is recovering from a long night.
“Networking and attending events is like working,” he says, feeling a little self-conscious about his disheveled appearance. The West Philly native gets comfortable on a black leather couch and immediately gushes about how fabulous Nona Hendryx of the legendary soul music group Labelle looks at age 65.
“She has the body of a 20-year-old,” he jokes of the songstress who has a song on the Precious soundtrack titled “Now That I Know Who I Am.”
Daniels sets the mood with laughter, but the conversation takes a deep turn as he discusses his journey to bring the story of Precious to the big screen, his toughest critic, and how it feels not to have the support of some African-Americans. He even reveals for the first time that he was sexually abused as a child. A revelation that offers further insight into the director’s penchant for creating dark films like Monster’s Ball , for which actress Halle Berry won an Oscar; The Woodsman , Shadowboxer and Tennessee . The provocative filmmaker tackles sensitive subject matters from interracial relationships and organized crime to pedophilia, child abuse and twisted estranged relationships.
The journey to get Push to the big screen was not an easy one. “It took a long time to get her to trust me to make the film,” says Daniels of Sapphire. The author had concerns that if the adaptation wasn’t done correctly it would change the way people perceived the book.
“During that time scenes were fermenting in my head because I knew I was going to stalk her down for this if it killed me.” Daniels says the scholar and poet is “a genius, but she’s got a little bit of hot sauce in her.”
“She’ll use a five-syllable word then bust out with the word ‘nigga,’” laughs Daniels as he fans himself.
The author finally embraced the idea. “Either that or she was tired of me stalking her,” says Daniels, and from there it was smooth sailing. “I had so many years to understand the story in its DNA.”
It’s the kind of DNA that is embedded in all of us, even
Daniels, who recently had to face a repressed childhood memory that forever connects him to Precious. “My therapist said, ‘Lee, your stories are so provocative, were you sexually abused?’ I go, ‘no.’ Then I go, ‘Well, you know I was 12 and this guy who was in his twenties tried something with me.’”
COMMENTS
ADD COMMENT
Related Content
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
By Matt PriggeAlleged cross-over appeal and forthcoming Oscars aside, it could never be mistaken for the work of Ron Howard. Unlike 'Slumdog Millionaire,' its hack critic-claimed doppelganger, Precious never makes abject poverty look fun.
MORE
Article:
Savage Love
Article:
The City Controller, a Councilman and the PPA All Use the Same Consultant. Is It a Conflict?
Article:
Letters to the Editor
Article:
Q&A With "First Occupy Candidate" Nathan Kleinman, Who Is Running for the U.S. House
Article:
The Faces Issue: Celebrating Black History Month
Article:
Residents Blame Store Clerk's Shooting Death on Cops' Interrogation Tactics
Article:
Letters to the Editor
1. Percie S said... on Nov 12, 2009 at 10:06AM
“Words cannot express how I feel about this movie I saw it this week and I am still feeling it. It really left an impact on me. After the movie I hated Monique thats how conviencing she was as the Mother. Your Oscar, Academy Awad is definitely coming for this one and any other award that they give out for movies. Congratulations”
2. Grady E Morrison said... on Nov 12, 2009 at 11:09AM
“I feel that it's hard for sexually abused people to speak out, especially men. There's a saying, "what happens in jail should stay in jail." Thus it doesn't have to be jail, it's jail once a mans been abused, Tyler Perry final let the cat out of the bag in his case. I'm totally against abuse now that I've gotten older, especially sexual abuse. Victims of abuse can express and create like Lee and Tyler because it has happened to them and putting it out there helps deal with the pain and disgrace. In my case I'm a married man and I've seen the abuse some married couples go through, especially women. I've always never wanted to abuse and mistreat my wife and the thought is kind of scary in angry moments. So this motivated me to write a book on abuse, "Guyz & Girlz X-Rated ISBN 9870557086528 on Amazon." It's a story about the bad, ugly and good in relationships and marriages. I always say now that I'm older I want to keep my marriage in the good category, so goes my story. Good job Lee!”
3. SC said... on Nov 14, 2009 at 02:56PM
“Monica is a good writer. But I can clearly tell the editors jacked this story up. “Street cred.” Monica wouldn’t use a corny term like that to stereotype people or describe the success of any black project. Professional , corporate Black women read this book as well. That is one problem I have with Philadelphia Weekly. They have out of touch editors who miss the mark when trying to appeal to urban folks.”
4. Anonymous said... on Nov 15, 2009 at 11:15AM
“some people said they just couldn't watch this movie. Well you must live on a deserted island. i thank you for taking me to a place that i have never been before because i no it really real.”
5. Anonymous said... on Nov 15, 2009 at 07:30PM
“LOL! SC said "Monica is a good writer"!”
6. drmusa said... on Nov 17, 2009 at 10:41PM
“I haven't seen the movie yet but it is a top priority with me. I'm just so proud of Lee's accomplishments as I am a Philly native and a good friend of his late Uncle Reggie whom i miss profoundly at times. I never knew enough of Lee to discuss him with his unc. Kudos, Lee -- continue to be true to yourself and to purvey the truth!”
7. Jonesman said... on Nov 18, 2009 at 09:37AM
“Monica Peters always writes great articles. Everytime I see her name in a publication in Philly or NY, I pick it up because I know she will dig deep and bring out some deep stuff.
This definitely is the best article that has been done in a Philadelphia newspaper about Lee Daniels. It was about him as a person and not the typical stuff. I'm not surprised that he revealed to her that he was sexually abused. You can tell Daniels felt really comfortable with Monica.”
8. Rashida Brown said... on Nov 19, 2009 at 06:35AM
“Message is for Monica Peters:
Congratulations,!!!!!! Your cover story was strong and interesting. Great interview, I loved how you mixed his life story with the focus of the movie. I work with and advocate for families daily I haven't decided if I will see the movie yet I know it is will an emotional roller coaster. I hope it has a happy ending???””
9. parkosa said... on Nov 28, 2009 at 03:13PM
“cool”
10. MJ said... on Nov 30, 2009 at 11:14AM
“This is a great article. I met Monica at the Whole Foods in Manhattan a few years back. She was really cool and down to earth. The only issue I have with the article is that she described Precious as "ugly." I understand that Precious is overweight and dark skinned, but how does that mean that Precious is ugly just because she is darkskin? I know Ms. Peters is outspoken about issues like this (lightskin/darkskin stereotypes). Not sure why there was such poor wording in that sentence. But I get the feeling the editors probably made changes to the article, being ignorant about the issues and discrimination darkskin women face in the Black community and on a broader level. I'll let ya slide this time Ms. Peters :). I still love ya!”
11. faith4robin said... on Feb 2, 2010 at 10:19AM
“I am so proud that this movie has made such an impact. I read the book and I made it a point to see it the first day it came to Philly. As Mr. Daniels stated I too know and knew a Precious. I am so sick of the Shhhh don't say anything policy when it comes to something of this nature. I can't understand why some feel this puts a bad light on African Americans. This just doesn't happen in Black famillies! Just because this PARTICULAR story is about a black family does not in any way shape or form shed a dark cloud over us as a race. Abuse does not discriminate!! The sooner the closed minded realize this the sooner we will be able to save as many as humanly possible from such violence.”
12. Katie D said... on Mar 5, 2010 at 09:12PM
“Way to go, Lee! I interned on "The Woodsman" and have been a fan and supporter of your work ever since. Keep up the fantastic work and speaking your truth - it's universal! This Philly native and fellow New Yorker is proud of you!”