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.