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IMDbPro

Heräämisiä

Original title: Awakenings
  • 19901990
  • SS
  • 2h 1m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
141K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,211
224
Heräämisiä (1990)
Official Trailer
Play trailer2:44
4 Videos
90 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
141K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,211
224
  • 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
    • 257User 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

    Photos90

    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)
    • Director
      • Penny Marshall
    • Writers
      • Oliver Sacks(book)
      • Steven Zaillian(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    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 reviews257

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Robin Williams Should Do Films Like This More Often
    "Awakenings" is a positively surprising career change of pace for its two leads, Robin Williams and Robert DeNiro. 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. 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. 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. The same goes for DeNiro and his performance here as well.
    helpful•91
    10
    • soranno
    • Oct 25, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 1, 1991 (Finland)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Awakenings
    • 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
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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