On September 15, 1989, Liz Smith reported that those being considered for the role of Leonard Lowe's mother were Kaye Ballard, Shelley Winters, and Anne Jackson; not quite three weeks later, Newsday named Nancy Marchand as the leading contender. However, in January of the following year, Premiere published a widely cited story, much repeated and embellished in the years since, stating that not only had Winters landed the role, but she'd been targeted at De Niro's request and had sealed the deal by means of some unabashed résumé-flexing:
Movie's ratings
Production
Soundtrack
Awakenings (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) [Remastered]
Different stars
- 1 Randy NewmanLeonard 4:32
- 2 Randy NewmanDr. Sayer 1:40
- 3 Randy NewmanLucy 3:11
- 4 Randy NewmanCatch 1:11
- 5 Randy NewmanRilke's Panther 3:11
- 6 Randy NewmanL Dopa 3:10
- 7 Randy NewmanAwakenings 5:42
- 8 Colin Blunstone & Rod ArgenTime of the Season 3:13
- 9 Randy NewmanOutside 1:05
- 10 Randy NewmanEscape Attempt 0:51
- 11 Randy NewmanWard Five 3:29
- 12 Randy NewmanDexter's Tune 2:40
- 13 Randy NewmanThe Reality of Miracles 2:30
- 14 Randy NewmanEnd Title 6:01
Awakenings
(1990)8
" There is no such thing as a simple miracle."
| Country | |
| Runtime | 2 hr 1 min |
| Budget | $31 000 000 |
| Premiere: World | December 31, 1990 |
| Box Office – Budget | $21 096 475 |
| Premiere: USA | $52 096 475 December 12, 1990 |
| theaters | 1330 |
| rollout | 375 days |
| Digital: World | July 17, 2007 |
| Parental Advisory | Frightening & Intense Scenes, Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking, Profanity |
| |
| Production Companies | |
| Also Known As | Despertares United States |
Description
Dr. Sayer is a pioneering neurologist who wants to take a risk and give his patients who suffer from encephalitis a drug used for Parkinson’s Disease. He tries it out on one man who miraculously wakes from his perpetual catatonic state.Сast and Crew
Director
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Writer
Author
Composer
Stills Posters Filming Screenshots Covers Logo
Author
Oliver Sacks was a renowned neurologist and author known for his ability to convey complex medical conditions in a way that was accessible and engaging to the general public. His work often focused on the human side of neurological disorders, exploring the personal stories of his patients.About the Book
Awakenings is a non-fiction book written by Oliver Sacks and first published in 1973. The book is a detailed account of the author's experiences in the late 1960s with a group of patients who had been victims of the encephalitis lethargica epidemic that occurred in the early 20th century. These patients were left in a state of catatonia for decades until the administration of the drug L-DOPA, which temporarily "awakened" them.Content and Themes
- Medical Exploration: The book delves into the medical and scientific aspects of the condition and the effects of L-DOPA.
- Human Stories: It highlights the personal stories and struggles of the patients, providing a compassionate look at their lives.
- Ethical Questions: The narrative raises ethical questions about medical intervention and the quality of life.
Book vs. Film
The film adaptation of Awakenings remains largely faithful to the book's core themes and stories. While the film takes some creative liberties for dramatic effect, it captures the essence of Oliver Sacks's work, focusing on the emotional and ethical dimensions of the patients' experiences. The film successfully translates the book's exploration of the human condition and the impact of medical breakthroughs on individual lives.Background
The film "Awakenings" is based on the true story of the work of Oliver Sacks, a British neurologist. His book, also titled Awakenings, was published in 1973 and documents his experiences in the late 1960s at a hospital in the Bronx, New York.The Real Story
In the late 1960s, Dr. Oliver Sacks encountered a group of patients who had survived the encephalitis lethargica epidemic that occurred between 1917 and 1928. These patients were left in a catatonic state, unable to move or communicate effectively for decades. Dr. Sacks began treating them with a then-experimental drug called L-Dopa, which was initially used to treat Parkinson's disease.The Patients' Awakening
- The treatment led to remarkable temporary recoveries, where patients "awoke" from their catatonic states, regaining the ability to move and communicate.
- However, the effects of L-Dopa were not permanent, and many patients experienced severe side effects and eventually returned to their previous states.
Correspondence to the Film
The film closely follows the events described in Dr. Sacks's book, capturing the emotional and ethical challenges faced by the medical staff and the patients themselves. While some characters and events were fictionalized for dramatic purposes, the core story remains true to the real-life experiences documented by Dr. Sacks.Production
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Friends comments and ratings
Great duet. How much pain, how much love, how much effort spent for the sake of people and myself. The story is all the more difficult because it is true. It is in such works that one can see that cinema is an art and not just entertainment.
The story does indeed reek of Algernon, but when you look into Williams' bright and sad eyes, and then De Niro delivers a powerful performance (it’s a shame it didn’t go further than the nomination), all traces of secondary nature disappear and what remains is a sad chronicle of days gone by, in which – c’est la vie – there is no place for a happy ending.
Great movie. While watching I experienced a whole range of emotions. Excellent acting, and not only by the incomparable Williams and De Niro, brought a lot of pleasure. An incredibly kind, sometimes funny and cheerful, sometimes sad and sad story.
It was powerful. Films about disabled people are not my favorite genre, but here is a unique case when a real story takes the viewer and patients on a roller coaster, making them experience not only sadness, but also sincere joy. I can’t even believe that this happened. Very touching.
another De Niro film, another great performance by the actor. it’s a pity that he didn’t manage to get a third Oscar, the role more than deserves this award. the film reminds me of the book "flowers for algernon", which makes it even more touching
This is one of DeNiro’s best roles. Probably every neurologist dreams of his insane patients regaining their minds. Trying to reveal the topic through the mysterious disease lethargic encephalitis, using the means of a mad doctor acting at random, is a touching but implausible idea
Progress and regression. A sad true story about hospital patients with a rare and terrible illness who find themselves trapped in their bodies. 7.5 out of 10.
Honestly, you watch a film like this and wow, it’s just so interesting and easy that I burst into tears at the end of the film. The film is fantastic.
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