Awakenings
Awakenings is a 1990 American biographical drama film written by Steven Zaillian, directed by Penny Marshall, and starring Robert De Niro, Robin Williams, Julie Kavner, Ruth Nelson, John Heard, Penelope Ann Miller, Peter Stormare and Max von Sydow. It is based on Oliver Sacks's 1973 nonfiction memoir Awakenings. The film tells the story of the fictional neurologist Dr. Malcolm Sayer (Williams), whose character is based on Sacks.
Plot
In 1969, Dr. Malcolm Sayer is a dedicated and caring physician at a local hospital in the New York City borough of the Bronx. After working extensively with the catatonic patients who survived the 1919–1930 epidemic of encephalitis lethargica, Sayer discovers a stimuli that will "awaken" the patients from their respective catatonic states. Actions such as catching a ball, hearing familiar music, being called by their name, and enjoying human touch each have unique effects on particular patients and offer a glimpse into their worlds. Patient Leonard Lowe seems to remain unmoved, but Dr. Sayer learns that Leonard is able to communicate with him by using a Ouija board.
Awards
Cast
More details
| author | Alain Cuniot Oliver Sacks Steven Zaillian |
|---|---|
| award | National Board of Review: Top Ten Films |
| contentLocation | New York City The Bronx |
| director | Alain Cuniot Penny Marshall |
| editor | Battle Davis Jerry Greenberg |
| events | von Economo's disease |
| genre | drama |
| keywords | awaken bronx catatonia catatonic catatonic state dedicate encephalitis lethargica end facial and body tics begin to manifest hear hospital staff l-dopa levodopa-induced dyskinesia new life one by one ouija ouija board overcome parkinson\'s disease <small>l</small>-dopa |
| musicBy | Randy Newman |
| nomination | Academy Award for Best Actor Academy Award for Best Picture Academy Award for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay |
| producer | Lawrence Lasker Walter F. Parkes |
| productionCompany | Lasker/Parkes Productions |
| publisher | Columbia Pictures |
| recordedAt | New York City |
| theme | biographical drama |