Based On The Novel Push, By Sapphire Tickets

It may seem unlikely to find comedy in a novel and film adaptation that deals with serious topics such as sexual abuse, poverty, and illiteracy. However, the 2009 film Precious (based on the novel Push, by Sapphire) manages to incorporate humor into its narrative without diminishing the gravity of the protagonist's struggles.

One of the sources of humor in the film is the character of Ms. Rain, played by actress Paula Patton. Ms. Rain is Precious' alternative school teacher who challenges her students to express themselves through writing and literature. She is portrayed as eccentric, flamboyant, and unorthodox in her teaching methods, which results in many humorous moments. For example, when Precious writes a poem about being pregnant, Ms. Rain responds by reading a personal essay she wrote about getting over a breakup and then clowning around to cheer Precious up. The scene is comical, but it also showcases the teacher's empathy and creative approach to education.

Another aspect of the film that elicits laughs is the interactions between the main character Precious and her mother Mary, played powerfully by comedian Mo'Nique. While Mary is depicted as abusive and manipulative towards her daughter, her character is also written with some darkly comic lines and actions. For instance, when Mary convinces Precious to sign up for government assistance by telling her she will get "free money," she sardonically adds, "You can use it to buy yourself some cheeseburgers or something." Later on, when Precious confronts Mary about her sexual abuse, Mary responds by blaming her daughter and proclaims, "I didn't do nothing, I'm a good mother." Mo'Nique's delivery of these lines adds a layer of absurdity to the tragic family dynamic, highlighting the disturbing reality that sometimes abusers refuse to acknowledge their wrongdoing and even blame the victim.

Of course, not all of the humor in Precious comes from verbal exchanges. The film also employs sight gags and slapstick comedy to break up some of the darker scenes. For example, during a classroom exercise, one of Precious' classmates drops a heavy book on her foot, causing her to writhe in pain while the rest of the class giggles. Later on, when Precious gives birth to her second child, there is a humorous moment where she faints from the exhaustion and the baby falls onto the bed next to her, causing some nurses to gasp in shock.

Overall, the use of comedy in Precious is skillfully woven into the fabric of the story, providing moments of levity without detracting from the weighty themes. It reminds us that even in the darkest of situations, there can be glimpses of humanity, creativity, and even laughter.