Maps of Movies

Precious (2009)

Where Precious says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

A Harlem story where only a school's address is firm, and the film's own places are named by a single list

Scenes and places

The apartment she cannot leave in her head (1987)

Precious lives here with her mother, who is harsh with her, so she escapes into daydreams where she is loved and admired.

Set in Precious's family apartment, Harlem — A Section 8 tenement where Precious lives with her mother Mary.

A Section 8 tenement apartment in Harlem; the sources give no street address.

The principal's office (1987)

Precious is called out of math class to the principal's office. Mrs. Lichtenstein asks about the pregnancy and decides Precious cannot stay on as she is.

Set in Junior high principal's office (Mrs. Lichtenstein) — The office where the principal learns Precious is pregnant again.

A junior high school office in Harlem; the sources name no street address.

The fried chicken shop (1987)

Precious, hungry and alone, takes fried chicken from a shop on her way. The scene shows how small her world is outside school and home.

Set in Fried chicken shop, Harlem — A fast-food chicken place where Precious takes a piece of fried chicken.

A fried chicken diner in Harlem; the only source naming it is a French Wikipedia list of filming places.

The alternative school at Hotel Theresa (1987)

Precious enrolls at Each One Teach One and meets her teacher Ms. Rain and the girls in her class. With Ms. Rain's help she slowly starts to read and write.

Set in Each One Teach One school (Hotel Theresa) — The alternative school on an upper floor of Harlem's Hotel Theresa where Precious meets Ms. Rain. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Harlem's Hotel Theresa, at 125th Street and Seventh Avenue, is named in both the novel and the film as the school's address.

Filmed at Hotel Theresa, Harlem — A French Wikipedia list of filming places names the Hotel Theresa; the English Wikipedia article for the hotel says the novel and film are set there. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The ride to school (1987)

Precious rides the subway between home and school. These trips are the only stretch of the day that belongs to her.

Set in Subway to school, Harlem and Inwood — The train ride that connects Precious's home and her new school.

The A train runs on the Eighth Avenue line to Inwood, where Dyckman Street is a stop.

Filmed at Dyckman Street station, Inwood — Listed among filming places in a French Wikipedia article; which scene is not stated. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The hospital (1987)

Precious's water breaks while she is telling a story in class, and she is rushed to the hospital. She gives birth to a healthy son named Abdul.

Set in Hospital, New York City — The hospital where Precious gives birth to her son.

A New York City hospital; the sources name no particular building.

Ms. Rain's home (1987)

Ms. Rain finds Precious and her baby asleep in the classroom and takes them in for the holiday while she looks for a safe place for them.

Set in Ms. Rain's home — The home of Precious's teacher, where Precious and the baby stay.

A private home; the sources name no address.

The halfway house (1987)

Precious moves into a halfway house with Abdul and carries on with her schooling. For the first time she has a place that is her own.

Set in Halfway house — The halfway house where Precious lives with her baby while she keeps going to school.

A halfway house; the sources name no address.

The social worker's office (1987)

Precious has been meeting Ms. Weiss throughout the film. In her office she sees her own case file, and the girls in her class learn what it says.

Set in Ms. Weiss's office — The office of Precious's social worker.

A social services office; the sources name no address.

Characters

• Precious — A 16-year-old in Harlem in 1987 who learns to read and write at an alternative school.