Lorenzo's Oil (1992)

A boy develops a disease so rare that nobody is working on a cure, so his father decides to learn all about it and tackle the problem himself.

Director:

George Miller

Writers:

George Miller, Nick Enright

Stars:

Nick Nolte, Susan Sarandon, Peter Ustinov

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nick Nolte	...	Augusto Odone
Susan Sarandon	...	Michaela Odone
Peter Ustinov	...	Professor Nikolais
Kathleen Wilhoite	...	Deirdre Murphy
Gerry Bamman	...	Doctor Judalon
Margo Martindale	...	Wendy Gimble
James Rebhorn	...	Ellard Muscatine
Ann Hearn	...	Loretta Muscatine
Maduka Steady	...	Omouri
Mary Wakio	...	Comorian Teacher
Don Suddaby	...	Himself
Colin Ward	...	Jake Gimble
LaTanya Richardson Jackson	...	Nurse Ruth (as La Tanya Richardson)
Jennifer Dundas	...	Nurse Nancy Jo
William Cameron	...	Pellerman

Storyline

Until about the age of 7, Lorenzo Odone was a normal child. After then, strange things began to happen to him: he would have blackouts, memory lapses, and other strange mental phemonenons. He is eventually diagnosed as suffering from ALD: an extremely rare incurable degenerative brain disorder. Frustrated at the failings of doctors and medicine in this area, the Odones begin to educate themselves in the hope of discovering something which can halt the progress of the disease.

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Plot Keywords:

hope | doctor | reference to jesus christ | what happened to epilogue | ends with real life footage | 

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Taglines:

Some people make their own miracles.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for a child's life threatening ordeal

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

29 January 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

Un milagro para Lorenzo

Filming Locations:

Washington Dulles International Airport - 45020 Aviation Drive, Sterling, Virginia, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$7,286,388

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures,Kennedy Miller Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

129 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Zack O'Malley Greenburg (Lorenzo) never acted again after this film.

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Quotes

Michaela Odone: The life of one boy is not enough reward for you to risk the reputation of the institution and the esteem of your peers.
Professor Nikolias: That was uncalled for. Your responsibility is merely towards your own child. My responsibility is towards all the boys that suffer from this disease, now and in the future. Of course I anguish for the suffering of your boy. And of course I applaud you for the efforts you make on his behalf. But I will have nothing to do with this oil.
Michaela Odone: We are not asking, Doctor, for your ...

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Crazy Credits

Lorenzo's scream is heard right at the very end of the film.

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Hoffa/Trespass/Chaplin/Lorenzo's Oil/Peter's Friends (1992)

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Soundtracks

La Traviata - Parigi, o Cara
Written by Giuseppe Verdi (as Verdi)
Performed by Joan Carden and Richard Greager
The Elizabethan Sydney Orchestra
Conducted by Carlo Felice Cillario

User Reviews

Susan shines and who would expect any less??

Susan Sarandon is one of the greatest actresses ever, in my opinion. Some may not agree, but I would surely have a strong argument, with her performance in Lorenzo's Oil as my just part of my evidence. I have come to expect a lot of Susan, after her performances in Rocky Horror, Bull Durham and Thelma & Louise and she didn't disappoint me here. As Michaela Odone, the mother of Lorenzo, who has a terminal disease ALD, she perfectly skates that fine line between being a caring parent and a crazed mother obsessed with keeping her son alive, and if the nurses don't like it, too bad. Even Michaela's own sister is told to leave, because she thinks Michaela is losing it. Susan exquisitely shows the pain and sacrifice of a mother watching her son deteriorate while she is basically powerless to stop it. "How can I enjoy anything when he enjoys nothing?" This question truly reveals Michaela's agony. I think she was criminally robbed of an oscar. I would watch this movie for her performance alone. However, this is not all the movie has to offer. Nick Nolte also delivers as the father, Augusto, showing a slightly different angle with his side of the story. Together, they create what I consider to be a masterpiece. 10/10