By Lauren Mattia

Among the Oscar hopefuls this year is Lee Daniels’ (director of “Monster’s Ball) “Precious,” a stunningly haunting film based on the novel “Push” by the poet Sapphire. Halle Berry took the Best Actress Oscar for Daniels’ “Monster’s Ball” in 2002, and a similar result is possible for “Precious” star, Gabourey Sidibe. The film is likely to get a nomination for Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress (Mo’Nique) as well, despite the fact that it tackles some serious social issues that few other filmmakers have had the guts to shed light on. “Precious” follows the life of Clareece “Precious” Jones, an obese, illiterate teenager with unyielding spirit. Precious seems to have everything against her, forced to deal with two pregnancies, a sexually and physically abusive mother, and a life of poverty and hate. Starring in the film alongside Sidibe is comedienne/actress Mo’Nique, who gives a disturbing, Oscar-worthy performance as Precious’ mother, musician Mariah Carey, and the View’s host, Sherri Shepard, and musician Lenny Kravitz (in his first acting role).

The only thing that fuels Precious to continue living in her suffocating Harlem life is her imagination, which allows her to create a fantasy world full of BET stardom and an imaginary “light skinned boyfriend with real nice hair.” Her fantasies are most of what keep her from surviving her mother and father’s abuse, her isolation due to her weight, her poverty, and her academic struggles. One of the other heroes in the film is Precious’ teacher, played by Naella Gordon. She faces her own struggles as an African American lesbian in the film, because according to Daniels, “in my culture, homosexuality is really looked down on.”

The film premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and met warm reviews and won the Audience Award. The film is extremely unconventional, making it a surprise Oscar hopeful while bringing viewers into a world that many of us choose to ignore. The film’s diverse cast is what makes it so stunning– Carey stripping down to a far from glamourous role as a social worker, Kravitz as a nurse, Mo’Nique’s role as a terrifying, abusive mother, and of course Sidibe, an atypical hero. This film marked Sidibe’s debut role, one which seemed to be meant for her.

In an NPR interview with Daniels and Winfrey, who co-produced the film along with “Madea” series creator Tyler Perry, Daniels expresses his apprehension about creating such a shocking film. “I’m a little nervous about white people seeing this world. Because this is mine—this is my world.” I guarantee this film is like nothing you’ve ever seen, and in that way, it deserves the Best Picture Oscar. The film will premiere for major theatrical release on November 6th. The film guarantees to haunt even the most seasoned film buff, but does so while warming hearts and opening minds to a world that is often unseen.