10 Most Depressing Films Of All Time

9. Precious (2009)

precious Precious is an illiterate, obese 16 year old girl who lives in Harlem with her dysfunctional family. Her father regularly rapes her and she has a Downs Syndrome baby as a product of incest - she is now pregnant for the second time by her father. Her mother is physically and mentally abusive towards Precious. Upon learning of her second pregnancy, her high school principal sends her to an alternative school. She flourishes there and learns to read and write. A social worker learns of her incestuous situation at home. Precious has a baby boy she calls Abdul and a staff worker called Johnny shows her a rare glimpse of compassion. The situation at home is getting increasingly worse with her violent mother so Precious flees along with her child. She breaks into her school and when she is found the next day, the social worker arranges for her to stay in a half way house. Her mother comes forth to tell her that her father is dead from AIDs. Precious tests HIV positive but this does not dampen her spirit. She is going to get her high school diploma equivalent and do the best for her children. The acting in the film is a tour de force. At no time at all do the cast put a foot wrong. This is essential in emotionally engaging us with the story and the characters. Poor Precious suffers a catalogue of abuse that is astounding in its nastiness and the film takes us through the hardships of her life, sparing no punches. Precious' inner fantasy life is wonderfully depicted and makes for such a sad contrast with her reality. We admire Precious' intestinal fortitude for living through a nightmare and refusing to be beaten. It is an inspirational story, but it is very melancholic to watch.
 
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Contributor
Contributor

My first film watched was Carrie aged 2 on my dad's knee. Educated at The University of St Andrews and Trinity College Dublin. Fan of Arthouse, Exploitation, Horror, Euro Trash, Giallo, New French Extremism. Weaned at the bosom of a Russ Meyer starlet. The bleaker, artier or sleazier the better!