Awakenings Movie 1990 | Key Facts & Characters & Ending Explained
Awakenings Movie 1990 is a touching, emotional and inspiring story about a shy doctor with no life that arrives to the chronic hospital in the Bronx to work with post-encephalitic patients, there he meets Leonard a man who’s been catatonic for nearly 30 years.While he helps Leonard to restarts his life he began to learn how live his own.
Based on a true story, the film is about the experimental drug invented by Dr. Oliver Sacks (Williams) and how it successfully awakened many paitents from catatonic states which had lasted as long as 30 years. Dr. Sayer ignores the criticisms of his more pessimistic colleagues and drives forward with the drug. During the summer of 1969 the patients of Dr. Sayer awaken and come back to the present after being frozen in time. Led by Leonard the group starts to enjoy life to the fullest.
DeNiro gives an especially moving performance as one of the paitents who also turns out to be one of the drug’s biggest success stories.
The plot is totally convincing and very well developed. The directing was great, Director Penny Marshall did a great job with a very simple view of how’s the life of that kind of patients and of the people around them with a very good movie rhythm that flows perfectly and never bores you.
Characters
The cast is simply excellent, having a pair of actors like Williams and De Niro together in the same film its just worthy. Robert De Niro’s performance was flawless, there’s no doubt that it was an Oscar nomination role, Robin Williams was also great as Dr. Malcolm Sayer, one of his best performances ever. The secondary roles from Penelope Ann Miller, Julie Kavner, John Heard and Ruth Nelson were very good and gave the necessary support to the movie. This was a enjoyable and tear dropping movie that touches the deepest region of your heart and soul and it will make you appreciate the simple things in life. Recommendable for everyone.
It’s a real shame how overlooked this film turned out to be for Williams’ career. He should be getting praised for his quality dramatic performances in films that matter like this one rather than for his inferior comedies. This film proves that Williams can successfully expand his range and be a great dramatic actor.
Ending Explained
Unfortunately good things don’t last forever, and the L-Dopa cure fails to work over time. Leonard and Dr. Sayer both fight this fact, but they have to come to terms with the limitations. This doesn’t detour Leonard in the end though and he is happy to have experienced life again. It is heartbreaking experience, but Dr. Sayer takes Leonard’s words to heart and chooses to be alive.
Awakenings Movie is Based on True Story
It’s true that “Awakenings” is based on a true story. It is based on neurologist Oliver Sacks’s actual experiences, which he wrote about in his 1973 memoir. Sacks describes in this ground-breaking narrative how he uses L-DOPA to rouse post-encephalitic syndrome patients. The movie pays homage to these real-life incidents while highlighting the amazing ability of medical advancement to save lives that had previously looked hopeless.
Notably, Oliver Sacks and Robin Williams—who played Dr. Sayer—worked together off-screen as well. Acknowledged for his proficiency in improvisation, Williams forged a strong bond with Sacks while working on the “Awakenings” set. They spent a lot of time together, thus their bond extended beyond the movie. Williams collaborated carefully with Sacks to ensure that his portrayal of Dr. Sayer kept true to the actual events shown in the Awakenings true story, as a result of his commitment to realism.
Under Sacks’s scientific guidance, the film stays true to the factual story while capturing the dreadful effects of encephalitis lethargica. “Awakenings” preserves the integrity of Sacks’ ground-breaking work despite the required cinematic adaptations, highlighting the ability of medical innovation to revive lives that were previously thought to be beyond recovery. The sincere bond between Williams and Sacks contributes a moving element to the film’s realism, demonstrating a mutual dedication to respecting the life-changing events chronicled in Sacks’ memoir.
Awakenings Movie 1990 | Review & Summary | Reviews
IMDB score is 7.8 ( I rated it 8 personally)
Awakenings Movie 1990 | Review & Summary Netflix
Awakenings Movie 1990 | Trailer
