Awakenings

Awakenings

This movie is based on a true story of a doctor who helped comatose patients come alive again.

Dr. Malcolm Sayer (Robin Williams) comes to a hospital in hopes of getting a job as a neurological researcher. He soon finds out that the job he applied for is as an actual doctor, working with patients. Having spent the last five years working with earthworms, he is a very nervous when he is given the job. His anxiety subsides as he learns to love the patients, especially the hopeless comatose ones. After doing some research, he finds a drug that he believes will help these people "wake up." He tries it on Leonard Lowe (Robert De Niro), who has been comatose for 30 years, after he gets permission from Leonard's mother. Dr. Sayer gives Leonard a 1000 mg dose of this drug and waits. A miracle happens: Leonard does wake up. He learns how to do all the things he missed. He becomes alive. Because of this success, Dr. Sayer is given the money from patrons of the hospital to give this drug to all the patients. And they all wake up. It is a miracle.

Throughout this show, the overall theme is awakening. But not only for the patients. It is about realizing how wonderful life is and how much we miss when we take it for granted. It is a poignant film that will remain in my memory for a long time to come.

Grade: A