Awakenings (1990)

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.

Director:

Penny Marshall

Writers:

Oliver Sacks (book) (as Oliver Sacks M.D.), Steven Zaillian (screenplay)

Stars:

Robert De Niro, Robin Williams, Julie Kavner

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert De Niro	...	Leonard Lowe
Robin Williams	...	Dr. Malcolm Sayer
Julie Kavner	...	Eleanor Costello
Ruth Nelson	...	Mrs. Lowe
John Heard	...	Dr. Kaufman
Penelope Ann Miller	...	Paula
Alice Drummond	...	Lucy
Judith Malina	...	Rose
Barton Heyman	...	Bert
George Martin	...	Frank
Anne Meara	...	Miriam
Richard Libertini	...	Sidney
Laura Esterman	...	Lolly
Dexter Gordon	...	Rolando
Jayne Haynes	...	Frances

Storyline

1969. Dr. Malcolm Sayer is hired as a clinical physician at a psychiatric 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 ...

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Plot Keywords:

psychiatric hospital | drug testing | catatonia | encephalitis lethargica | year 1969 | 

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Taglines:

There is no such thing as a simple miracle.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 January 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Despertares

Filming Locations:

Williamsbridge Oval, Bronx, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$31,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$417,076, 25 December 1990

Gross USA:

$52,096,475

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$52,096,475

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Parkes/Lasker productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Oliver Sacks has been fictionalized into an American neurosurgeon named Malcolm Sayer. However, Robin Williams' portrayal actually bears a very close physical resemblance to the real Dr. Sacks, as he was in the 1960s. (Contributed on the day of Dr. Sacks' passing.)

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Goofs

When Dr. Sayer takes a patient to the window and shows the street outside, 1980s cars are seen driving by though the movie is set in the 1960s.

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Quotes

Mrs. Lowe: My son is in pain! Please, stop this!
Dr. Sayer: He's fighting, Mrs. Lowe.
Mrs. Lowe: He's losing.

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Connections

Referenced in Re: Awakenings (2013)

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Soundtracks

I'm Always Chasing Rainbows
Written by Harry Carroll and Joseph McCarthy

User Reviews

Amazing

Simply put, this is one of the greatest movies ever. This is easily the most powerful tearjerker that I've ever seen, thanks in large part to the brilliant performances by Williams and De Niro. But to be fair, the whole cast was excellent, and they were helped by a script that was nearly perfect. For me, the scenes with Miller proved to be the most emotional, but really, the whole film was heartwarming or heartbreaking on some level. I don't tend to get emotional when watching movies, but this film managed to find a way into my heart, and I can't possibly recommend this movie enough to those of you who haven't been lucky enough to see it yet.