There’s great Oscar buzz surrounding Lee Daniel’s film ‘Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire’. The movie chronicles the plight of an overweight illiterate teenager named Precious Jones; who against all odds pushes through the effects of severe sexual and mental abuse by both parents.

Set in Harlem in 1987, it is the story of Claireece "Precious" Jones (Gabourey Sidibe), a sixteen-year-old African-American girl born into a life no one would want. She’s pregnant for the second time by her absent father; at home, she must wait hand and foot on her mother (Mo’Nique), a poisonously angry woman who abuses her emotionally and physically. School is a place of chaos, and Precious has reached the ninth grade with good marks and an awful secret: she can neither read nor write.

Precious may sometimes be down, but she is never out. Beneath her impassive expression is a watchful, curious young woman with an inchoate but unshakeable sense that other possibilities exist for her. Threatened with expulsion, Precious is offered the chance to transfer to an alternative school, Each One/Teach One. Precious doesn’t know the meaning of "alternative," but her instincts tell her this is the chance she has been waiting for. In the literacy workshop taught by the patient yet firm Ms. Rain (Paula Patton), Precious begins a journey that will lead her from darkness, pain and powerlessness to light, love and self-determination.

Honored with the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival’s Cadillac People’s Choice Award, an Official Selection at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival - Un Certain Regard, and winner of three awards at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival including the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award in the U.S. Dramatic Competition, the film stars Mo’Nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey, Sherri Shepherd, Lenny Kravitz and introducing Gabourey Sidibe.

Unfortunately the film reminds us that millions of children from all races and backgrounds are victims of sex abuse and develop mental disorders later in life. One study has found that an overwhelming proportion of adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse have a mental illness: 95%. Half develop post-traumatic stress disorder. A study monitoring female drug abuse treatment programs notes that 40% of their outpatients report a history of sexual abuse.

Childhood molestation and sexual abuse is a prevalent reality in society. Oftentimes, these same children grow up to be adults suffering in silence with painful mental illness, if the victim never properly dealt with the effects of the abuse. The shocking statistics of sexual abuse towards children is chilling:

• 1 in 4 girls are sexually abused before the age of 18.

• 1 in 6 boys are sexually abused before the age of 18.

• 1 in 5 children are solicited sexually while on the Internet.

• Nearly 70% of all reported sexual assaults (including assaults on adults) occur to children ages 17 and under.

An estimated 39 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse exist in America today. The film opens in Columbia on November 20.