Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire

Precious (2009) is Lee Daniels' drama, adapted from Sapphire's novel "Push," and you can watch it online on iFILM. Harlem, 1987. Sixteen-year-old Clareece "Precious" Jones is pregnant for the second time by her own father and can barely read.

At home, her mother Mary beats her, screams at her, treats her like a servant. Stuck in the ninth grade, Precious is sent to a small alternative school, where for the first time an adult looks at her and sees a person worth saving — her teacher, Ms. Rain. Gabourey Sidibe plays Precious; Mo'Nique plays the mother; Mariah Carey turns up bare-faced as a social worker, and Lenny Kravitz has a small part too.

The film won two Academy Awards — Mo'Nique for Supporting Actress and Geoffrey Fletcher for the adapted screenplay. It's hard to watch, but it never begs for pity. It just stares straight ahead and waits for its heroine to decide she deserves more. Stream Precious (2009) online on iFILM.