Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire is a 2009 American drama film directed by
Lee Daniels.
Precious is an adaptation by
Geoffrey S. Fletcher of the 1996 novel
Push by
Sapphire. The film's mainly female cast features
Gabourey Sidibe as the title character, with
Mo'Nique,
Paula Patton,
Mariah Carey and
Lenny Kravitz in supporting roles. The film marked the acting debut of Sidibe.
The film, then without a distributor, premiered to acclaim at both the 2009
Sundance Film Festival and the
2009 Cannes Film Festival, under its original title of
Push: Based On The Novel By Sapphire.
At Sundance, it won the Audience Award and the Grand Jury Prize for best drama, as well as a Special Jury Prize for supporting actress
Mo'Nique.
After
Precious screening at Sundance in February 2009, Tyler Perry announced that he and Oprah Winfrey would be providing promotional assistance to the film, which was released through Lions Gate Entertainment. Precious
won the People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. The film's title was changed from Push
to Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
, to avoid confusion with the 2009 action film Push.