Synopsis:
The victims of an encephalitis
epidemic many years ago have been catatonic ever since, but now a new drug
offers the prospect of reviving them.
Angie's Rating: A :
Awakenings is a 1990 drama film based on Oliver
Sacks' memoir of the same name. It tells the
true story of Dr. Sacks (Sacks is fictionalized
as Malcolm Sayer, played by Robin Williams) who,
in 1969, discovers beneficial effects of the up
and coming drug L-Dopa. He challenges the board
of doctors at a "chronic hospital" to allow him
to start it on catatonic patients who survived
the 1917-1928 epidemic of encephalitis
lethargica. Leonard Lowe (played by Robert De
Niro) and the rest of the patients are awakened
after decades of catatonic state and have to
deal with a new life in a new time. While Dr.
Sayer must start to deal with the short comings
of his own life.
Directed by Penny Marshall, the film stars
Robert DeNiro, Robin Williams, John Heard, Julie
Kavner, Penelope Ann Miller, and Max Von
I just recently rewatched this movie. (I found
it while I was working in a video store in
highschool.) The acting is phenominal! If you
haven't heard of or seen this movie before you
really need to. It's an amazing movie... be
ready for the drama and a few tears though. :)
comment here
to add your review!
