Awakenings

Awakenings is a 1990 American drama film. It tells the true story of British neurologist which had, fictionalized as American Malcolm Sayer in 1969, discovered beneficial effects of the drug L-Dopa. He administered it to catatonic patients who survived the epidemic of encephalitis lethargica. Leonard Lowe and the rest of the patients were awakened after decades of catatonia and have to deal with a new life in a new time. Unfortunately, they were still turned into original condition after the temporary interesting life.

This is a very interesting movie as how is a life turned into a miracle and turned back again to the original condition. Dr. Sayer played the value of determination awesomely as the moment he realized something might be helped to awake those catatonic patients. He spent most of his time to observe patients and read all the information that he could find within the resources he has with. His passionate and determination have finally awoke patients by using L-Dopa. In my thought, he is a good doctor because he cares the health condition of patients genuinely as he worked for his own passionate as a doctor but not for the value of money. He had never give up the hope to treat the patients until he had finally created the miracle.

I had dropped my tears when I saw those moments when Leonard was awoke, when i saw his excitation toward his new life, when I saw the amaze when every patient was awoke, when I saw the facial expession as well as the psychological reaction of Mrs Lowe when she saw her son was finally awoke. The miracle which had been hoped by all the people surrounded them had finally occured. It is just amazing as no one had think of one day those patients will awake from the sickness. I realized there will always have miracle if we did really try to work very hard to achive our dream, academic performance and other things.

The value of love had also appeared in the whole process of film. Leonard had fall into love with Elena, his companionate love (Sternberg, 1986) with Elena had created the romantic scene in this beautiful film. After Leonard had turn back into original condition, Elena had also taking care of him though he decided to leave her. The awakening of patients had changed the life of every one. Specifically, the life of every patient as movements are the most important things for them. Even though the story had been ended sadly as all the patients turned into original posture, this had changed the view of appreciate and live life of every one. This had also changed the relationship between Dr Sayor with the nurse, Eleanor ashad had finally decided to date with her. 

Lastly, a sentence is still running in my mind 'I can't leave him alone, he'd die without me.' I saw the greatness of a mother's love toward her son. Mrs. Lowe, mother of Leonard who never stop her love toward her son even though he is suffering from sick. At the same time, I have think of my parents who always support, inspire and motivate me. They are the greatest in this world because if I live without their accompany during my growing process, I will not live with secure attachment (Bowlby, 1960) as Leonard did. Appreciation is very important as the life is short and we will never know the life will end.  

Sternberg, R. J. (1986) A triangular theory of love. Psychological Review, 93, 119-135.

     

     

Cinema Paradiso

This film is a very classic and golden film. The content of this movie tells the story of friendship and love. The flow of the movie is truly amazing and beautiful. It goes smoothly and every scene is just beautiful and touched.  

Salvatore Di Vita is the main character in the whole movie. His nicknamed Toto being called throughout this movie. One day, Toto's mother called to inform the news of passing of Alfredo in his hometown. When he heard this news, he laid on the bed and flashed back his life in his hometown, Giancaldo. Toto began to recall his old memories with Alfredo, which is his best friend since he was young. He is a film lover and he spent most of his pleasure time in Cinema. He had developed a friendship with Alfredo and he wanted to learn how to work with the machine but Alfredo initially did not want to teach him. During exam time, Alfredo took the same paper as Toto did. They exchanged the idea whereby Toto gave tips to Alfredo and Alfredo have to teach Toto how to run the machine. After Alfredo goes blind in a fire, Toto became the projectionist in the town. The stage theory of Erikson (1950) has been showed through the Toto's characteristic. Toto showed his 'industry' in learning to derive pleasure and satisfaction from the completion of tasks. Toto learned to solve his question in using the machine and he took the price of accomplishment. 

As Toto grew up, he studied in University and he fell in love with Elena. They got into  a romantic and intimate relationship as stated by Erickson (1950) but sadly their relationship did not last long as Elena's father did not approve their relationship. Toto went to the military service, throughout his military service Alfredo did not want to talk with anyone. After he has finished military service, Alfredo told him to leave and never come back to the town. Later, Toto became a famous film-maker. 

Toto attended Alfredo's funeral. He was in 'ego integrity' stage (Erickson, 1950) as he derived his wisdom from his life experiences and look back his life when he was with Alfredo. He watched the film strip that has been keeping by Alfredo long time ago. Later he only knew it was a gift from Alfredo. The short film gave by Alfredo contained all the romantic scenes which have been cut from the movies he watched in his childhood.

The secure attachment (Ainsworth, 1970) can be observed through the relationship between Toto and Alfredo. Alfredo had played the roles as a father and a friend toward Toto as the real father-son relationship was absence in Toto's life. Alfredo played a very important character in Toto's life as he had developed the confidence, courage, and passion in Toto. He helped and advised Toto when Toto was in frustration. Without Alfredo, Toto would not be a famous film-maker.