I've been thinking about whether I'll go see Precious or not. 

The hoopa surrounding the movie and the book before it, remind me of The Color Purple when it came out and For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide...by Ntozake Shange. While I know women who have experienced abuse at the hands of their mothers, fathers and step-fathers and mothers, and I was severaly abused by my grandmother, etc.,, it is not a story that I necessarily want to broadcast and havne't written about.

I'm not sure whether seeing brutality heals people.  It may make you feel better that you're not alone in what you've experienced.  I tend to be a person who sorts for the good in life and I know that for me, replaying my own abuse over and over wasn't good.

Lots of people are more attracted to big, dramatic, traumatic, angry, violent, etc., stories than ones that are uplifting.  Filmmakers can make things more potent with their visual images.  I don't know that if I were an actress, I'd want to give life to something so vile.

As for hating Black men after seeing the film - if only for a moment - I will say that my current husband and my son and lots of men I know are peaceful, respectful, positive, and decent people who would not and have not violated women.  I have a friend whose daughter was violated by her stepfather (something she found out in the past couple of years).  the friend has been divorced from this man for years.  Her two sons (one of whom is his biologically) are wonderful, upstanding men who treat women with the upmost respect.  One of them has full-custody of a daughter he had with a woman who was a neglectful parent. So, I think we have to remember that while there inevitably stories about children who've suffered this sort of abuse, there are children in our community who are loved and treasured even when there parents are financially poor, black and urban.  There doesn't seem to be much room for films from this angle.

Anyhow - thanks for sharing from your gut.

http://blog.candelarisilva.com

Good and plenty!

I've been struggling with whether or not I should shell out the cash and see this in the theater. I do believe, thanks to your review(s), I'm going to wait to watch this at home. The issues are big and in my face and are most likely best viewed where I can cry and yell in the privacy of my own home.

Thank you, truly, for taking off your professional hat and sharing the true grit of this film. I *will* see this movie. Just not in the theater.

@FireMom from Stop, Drop and Blog and The Chronicles of Munchkin Land

Hi Jenna,

Yeah, it's a tough call. 

It's interesting, I just saw Gabourey Sibide on David Letterman and I can't tell you what a relief it was to see Gabby the actress, as opposed to Gabby portraying Precious.

Here was this lovely girl, laughing and giggling with Letterman and talking about how she got the part within three days of auditioning and all I could think was how relieved I was that I could replace some of the images of Precious from the movie with the lovely young woman on my screen.

Part of me feels ashamed of that because it feels like I'm abandoning girls in Precious' circumstances, but for now, I'll take what I can get.

Amazing how the mind works.

Megan
BlogHer Contributing Editor, TV/Online Video

My Personal Entertainment Blog: Megan's Minute

My Review Blog:  Meg's Rad Reviews

Twitter:@MeganSmith

Thanks for writing from your gut the way you did, Megan.

My instinct is to not want to watch this film because I am so painfully aware that this IS REAL, and ugliness like this happens in every race, every culture. I'm the type to have such an emotional reaction that I get depressed I can't step out and change the world all by myself. It's tough. That said, I'm thankful that these stories are told, because awareness is critical.

Having read the book, I'm up in the air on seeing the movie on the big screen. I don't know if I can handle it.  Thanks for linking to my review. I took your gut reaction to heart. 

Nordette Adams is a BlogHer CE & you can find her other stuff through Her 411.

Wow, Megan.

This was an excellent post. I have not seen the movie, and am not sure that I will...for many of the reasons you stated. You moved me so much I am teared up and emotional. Also, as a black woman, I too know our pain and don't feel I can bear it, speak of it nor watch it any more than I do for my employment purposes every single day-maybe one day.

I have best wishes for the cast and the movie however, "we" are always asking for our stories to be told in a real way...so of course I wish it the best.

Thank you!!

Houseonahillorg

www.Houseonahillorg.blogspot.com

www.HealthierHappierHouseonahill.org

I don't even want to see the movie, I think it's a bad representation of blacks as usual.

I work for the school district and have witnessed some of these unbelievable, horrific behaviours myself.  It is almost too much to bear...or as you stated so beautifully "Im finding it hard to breathe."

~~~But this is REALITY not fantasy.  This is our screwed up world....

 Not only for Blacks...This dysfunction affects All of us.  It is about humanity....which does not come in a certain color.  It's about what is happening out there with our kids, our parents, our society....

I don't understand the comments about boycotting this film!!!  That's like putting your head in the sand and ignoring the problem.  That's like saying it doesn't exsist.....

It Does.

Precious is NOT a representation of BLACKS.  It's about ALL of us.  The human race.  And believe me, honey, this dysfunction is happening all around us.  Yes, it is....

What we need to do is love one another, reach out, listen.... and get our damn head out of the sand. 

Because once your head is buried, you cannot see the light......

  .

Megan, I love your blogs!!! 

I also love that you respond to everybody.  I understand what you are saying here....And I hope I did not offend you.  After all, you know what you're talking about.  I was just so angry about people boycotting and dictating who should see this movie, though.....

It's the rebel in me :)

I will keep reading your blogs.  You Have lots of depth in what you say!

In Appreciation,

Kim