The 2009 independent film based on Sapphire's novel Push and winner of two Oscars is Precious.
Directed and co-produced by Lee Daniels, Precious stars Gabourey Sidibe as Claireece “Precious” Jones, a teenager facing poverty, abuse, and an unexpected pregnancy in Harlem. The screenplay was written by Geoffrey S. Fletcher and adapted from Sapphire's 1996 novel Push. The film treats its subject matter with unflinching seriousness while emphasizing Precious's attempts to gain education, independence, and control over her life.
The movie originally premiered at Sundance under the title Push: Based on the Novel by Sapphire. Its name was changed before theatrical release to avoid confusion with another 2009 film called Push. The film became a major festival success and was distributed by Lionsgate.
At the 82nd Academy Awards, Precious won Best Supporting Actress for Mo'Nique and Best Adapted Screenplay for Fletcher. It received six Oscar nominations overall, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress for Sidibe. The title is therefore easy to confuse with the source novel, but Precious is the film's commonly accepted title.