The film Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire received six Academy Award nominations—including best picture and best director—for its story of a black teenage girl who overcomes sexual and physical abuse in addition to illiteracy, only to learn that she is HIV positive. The awards ceremony will air March 7 on ABC.

In one of the film’s many emotional scenes, during a powerful confrontation with her mother (Mo’nique, nominated for best supporting actress), Precious (Gabourey Sidibe, nominated for best actress) learns that she contracted HIV from her abusive father, who died of AIDS-related illness years earlier.

Precious was also nominated for film editing and for best adapted screenplay.