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Parents' Guide to

Awakenings

By Nell Minow, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Robin Williams plays it serious in moving true story.

Movie PG-13 1990 121 minutes
Awakenings Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 12+

Based on 2 parent reviews

BestPicture1996
BestPicture1996 Adult
April 22, 2016
age 13+

Fine duo of performances bogged down with sentimentality

Just a little research will prove that this was a successful Oscar bait movie: it was up for Best Picture among giants like "Dances with Wolves" and "Goodfellas." The other ultra-sentimental date favorite "Ghost" was also up for the prize. Though this isn't as sappy as that, it does have your OB staples: an Oscar-winner playing a man with a disease, Williams going against type as a shy, reserved doctor. If the human story hadn't shone out so well I would've deducted even more points. It's impossible not to smile when De Niro is able to use his own two legs to get from one place to the other. This isn't either of the two leads' best films, although De Niro gives a tremendous performance as recovering encephalitis victim Leonard Lowe, not just nailing the tics and speech, but the man's soul. Williams is wonderful, and even in a quiet role his explosive humor leaks out in small places if you watch carefully. It's like a much better, awards-friendly Lifetime movie.
Ashnak
Ashnak Adult
April 9, 2008
age 11+

Good Psychological Medical Drama

See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Shy neurologist Malcolm Sayer (Robin Williams) is assigned to work with a group of catatonic patients who, ever since an epidemic of encephalitis ("sleeping sickness") decades before, have not spoken or appeared to understand anything that was going on around them. Everyone else has given up hope, but Sayer notices they have reflex reactions and believes that new medication for Parkinson's disease may help. His superiors object, but he gets permission to try it on one patient, Leonard Lowe (Robert De Niro). At first, there is no reaction, but soon Leonard "awakens." His transformation is so thrilling that Malcolm is easily able to get permission and funding to treat the other patients, and the results are amazing. But eventually, Leonard becomes hyperactive, angry, and ridden with tics. The medication's side effects begin to overwhelm him. Malcolm sees that he is losing Leonard, and the other patients know that it must soon happen to them, too.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (8 ):

Directed by Penny Marshall, Awakenings is a powerful and moving story, brilliantly acted and directed. The movie is based on the book of the same name by neurologist Oliver Sacks, who was the basis for the character Malcolm Sayer. Like Malcolm, we can all use a reminder to appreciate the pleasures of being alive, including the pleasures that require us to take risks.

Teens will enjoy reading the Sacks book, and some of his others, especially The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and An Anthropologist on Mars, with astonishing and compassionate descriptions of some of his neurology patients.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what they think the neurologist means when he says, "because the implications of that would be unthinkable?" Why would he prefer to believe that the patients are not aware of what is going on? Were you surprised by the way any of the patients reacted to being "awakened?" Which reaction was most like the way you think you might feel? Why is it hard for Malcolm to interact with other people? How does Leonard change the way Malcolm behaves? Why does the staff treat the patients differently after the awakening, even when they go back the way they were?

Movie Details

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