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Awakenings

  • 19901990
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 1m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
138K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,011
311
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Awakenings (1990)
Official Trailer
Play trailer2:44
4 Videos
93 Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama

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
138K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,011
311
  • Director
    • Penny Marshall
  • Writers
    • Oliver Sacks(book)
    • Steven Zaillian(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Robert De Niro
    • Robin Williams
    • Julie Kavner
Top credits
  • Director
    • Penny Marshall
  • Writers
    • Oliver Sacks(book)
    • Steven Zaillian(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Robert De Niro
    • Robin Williams
    • Julie Kavner
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 252User reviews
    • 51Critic reviews
    • 74Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Oscars
      • 6 wins & 11 nominations total

    Videos4

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

    Photos93

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

    Top cast

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

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    Storyline

    Edit
    1969. Dr. Malcolm Sayer is hired as a clinical physician at a local hospital in the Bronx, despite he only having a research background. The job is not ideal on his side as he has difficulties relating to people which is the reason he has focused on research projects not involving human subjects, while the hospital hires him somewhat out of desperation in not finding anyone else with the qualifications who wants the job. Most of his patients are in a semi-catatonic state and are housed in what some of the orderlies coin the "garden" ward, where all they can do for the patients is water and feed them. He notices that some of the patients, despite their generally catatonic state, respond in unusual ways to certain stimuli. In doing some research, he also finds that some common bonds between these patients are that they suffered from encephalitis in the 1920s or 1930s, and that their physical states are like they have Parkinson's disease frozen in time. As such, he is able to convince, albeit reluctantly, his skeptical boss, Dr. Kaufman, to administer an expensive experimental drug therapy on only one patient with family consent. That patient is forty-one year old Leonard Lowe, who has been in his current state since he was eleven years old, and who has been supported by his loving mother through all these years. As the drug therapy "awakens" Leonard, there are several issues that come into play. Malcolm has to try and convince Kaufman and the hospital administration to extend the therapy to the other patients. Despite not knowing the long term effects, Leonard, who was aware of his surroundings through his catatonic state, may have mixed emotions about his situation, wanting both to be treated as human being and an experiment guinea pig to ensure that what is happening benefits him and others in the long run. Mrs. Lowe may be unprepared for the new Leonard, she expecting who she remembers as a sweet eleven year old boy. Through all these issues, what may be the most illuminating issue for Malcolm is the need to stimulate the human spirit, including his own in dealing with people around him. —Huggo
    • psychiatric hospital
    • drug testing
    • catatonia
    • encephalitis lethargica
    • title directed by female
    • 55 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • There is no such thing as a simple miracle.
    • Genres
      • Biography
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • PG-13
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When filming the scene where Dr. Sayer and the security guards attempt to restrain Leonard, Robin Williams accidentally hit Robert De Niro in the face with his elbow, breaking De Niro's nose. De Niro later commented that his nose had been broken before, in the opposite direction, and this injury straightened it back out.
    • 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 At 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 reviews252

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Excellent tear dropping drama
    Such a great movie, no wonder why in the 90's it deserved some Oscar nominations. 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. 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. 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.
    helpful•14
    1
    • barrys82
    • Sep 16, 2007

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 11, 1991 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Пробудження
    • 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

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $31,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $52,096,475
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $417,076
      • Dec 25, 1990
    • Gross worldwide
      • $52,096,475
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 1 minute
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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