“There are parallels between Precious and Samson and Delilah as they both tackle taboo issues in their respective societies — race issues in their different forms in two quite different countries,” says HE reader Joel Meares.
“I personally feel Samson avoids some of the pitfalls of Precious, which I greatly respect and admire, as well. But where Monique‘s performance and the teacher character in Precious hit extremely false notes for me (and seem to tie the film to a very Hollywood construct it other times deftly avoids), Samson stays on course the whole way through.
“Whether that delivers emotionally in the same sense is a question. Samson is more dulling than heart-wrenching, but it’s an extraordinarily consistent and honest film.”
