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IMDbPro

Heräämisiä

Original title: Awakenings
  • 19901990
  • SS
  • 2h 1m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
143K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,456
173
Heräämisiä (1990)
Official Trailer
Play trailer2:44
4 Videos
91 Photos
BiographyDrama

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.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.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.

IMDb RATING
7.8/10
143K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,456
173
    • Penny Marshall
    • Oliver Sacks(book)
    • Steven Zaillian(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Robert De Niro
    • Robin Williams
    • Julie Kavner
    • Penny Marshall
    • Oliver Sacks(book)
    • Steven Zaillian(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Robert De Niro
    • Robin Williams
    • Julie Kavner
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 261User reviews
    • 51Critic reviews
    • 74Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Oscars

    Videos4

    Awakenings
    Trailer 2:44
    Watch Awakenings
    Awakenings
    Trailer 2:43
    Watch Awakenings
    Awakenings
    Clip 1:51
    Watch Awakenings
    Clip
    Video 1:46
    Watch Clip

    Photos91

    Robert De Niro and Robin Williams in Heräämisiä (1990)
    Robin Williams and Julie Kavner in Heräämisiä (1990)
    Robert De Niro and Robin Williams in Heräämisiä (1990)
    Robert De Niro, Robin Williams, and Ruth Nelson in Heräämisiä (1990)
    Robin Williams in Heräämisiä (1990)
    Penelope Ann Miller in Heräämisiä (1990)
    Robert De Niro and Penelope Ann Miller in Heräämisiä (1990)
    Don Rickles and Barbara Rickles at an event for Heräämisiä (1990)
    David Arquette at an event for Heräämisiä (1990)
    Penny Marshall at an event for Heräämisiä (1990)
    Penny Marshall at an event for Heräämisiä (1990)
    Heräämisiä (1990)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robert De Niro
    Robert De Niro
    • Leonard Lowe
    Robin Williams
    Robin Williams
    • Dr. Malcolm Sayer
    Julie Kavner
    Julie Kavner
    • Eleanor Costello
    Ruth Nelson
    Ruth Nelson
    • Mrs. Lowe
    John Heard
    John Heard
    • Dr. Kaufman
    Penelope Ann Miller
    Penelope Ann Miller
    • Paula
    Alice Drummond
    Alice Drummond
    • Lucy
    Judith Malina
    Judith Malina
    • Rose
    Barton Heyman
    Barton Heyman
    • Bert
    George Martin
    George Martin
    • Frank
    Anne Meara
    Anne Meara
    • Miriam
    Richard Libertini
    Richard Libertini
    • Sidney
    Laura Esterman
    • Lolly
    Dexter Gordon
    Dexter Gordon
    • Rolando
    Jayne Haynes
    • Frances
    Le Clanché du Rand
    • Magda
    • (as Le Clanche Du Rand)
    Yusef Bulos
    Yusef Bulos
    • Joseph
    Steven Randazzo
    Steven Randazzo
    • Luis
    • (as Steve Randazzo)
      • Penny Marshall
      • Oliver Sacks(book)
      • Steven Zaillian(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Dr. Sayer treats the catatonic patient, Leonard, with a drug called Levodopa (L-DOPA). This was the same drug used to treat Robin Williams' own Parkinson-like symptoms shortly before his death in August 2014.
    • Goofs
      When Leonard gets the correct dose of medicine and 'awakens', he walks with almost no difficulty. If he had been catatonic for years, and even if he had been exercised regularly, he would not have been able to just get up and walk around so easily. His muscles would have atrophied. His voice would also have been raspy from disuse.
    • Quotes

      Leonard Lowe: We've got to tell everybody. We've got to remind them. We've got to remind them how good it is.

      Dr. Sayer: How good what is, Leonard?

      Leonard Lowe: Read the newspaper. What does it say? All bad. It's all bad. People have forgotten what life is all about. They've forgotten what it is to be alive. They need to be reminded. They need to be reminded of what they have and what they can lose. What I feel is the joy of life, the gift of life, the freedom of life, the wonderment of life!

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: The Rookie/Berkeley in the Sixties/Edward Scissorhands/The Grifters (1990)
    • Soundtracks
      I'm Always Chasing Rainbows
      Written by Harry Carroll and Joseph McCarthy

    User reviews261

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Robin Williams' most complete performance
    Awkward Dr. Malcolm Sayer (Robin Williams) has more difficulties dealing with people than with worms. He is a new hire to the understaffed psych ward. One day he noticed a previously assumed catatonic patient actually has reactions. Soon he finds other such patients including Leonard Lowe (Robert De Niro), and a drug that could possibly save them.

    Penny Marshall created a film that plucks the heartstrings. It is a well crafted emotional tour de force. Robin Williams is able to restraint his manic energy to make Dr Sayer is a compelling man who learns to grow. Robert De Niro is playing the showier part, and he excels at it. The movie will leave you with a tear and a hope in your heart.
    helpful•18
    1
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    • Sep 30, 2013

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    Photos

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 1, 1991 (Finland)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Gun Hill Road, Norwood section, Bronx, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • Parkes/Lasker productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 2 hours 1 minute
      • Color

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