Awakenings
probably is one of the best educational movies that I’ve ever seen which is
based on true story of a doctor (Dr. Sayer) fighting for miracle of patients
with encephalitis epidemic. In this movie, I admire Dr. Sayer’s
indomitable spirit of not giving up on his patients, fighting for them even
others disagreed him. From the beginning of the story, Dr Sayer discovered
interesting facts on his patients, which they have certain stimuli such as catching
the ball thrown at them. And also later he discovered that one of his patient,
Leonard, actually can hear him and communicate with him. Later, he used the new
drug that is for Parkinson’s disease on Leonard, surprisingly Leonard awakes to
the reality and is able to do normal activities. Unfortunately Dr. Sayer found
out it only last for a period of time, patients with encephalitis epidemic were
back to the catatonic state. Also, I admire Leonard’s optimistic personality
against his disease in the end. Though Leonard has experienced a short period
of awake and being agitated towards everyone, in the end he still managed to
accept the fact and spend his remaining times, helping Dr. Sayer to film and
record the process of himself.
In the beginning of the film, Dr. Sayer was an introvert and
did not have many friends. He even rejected nurse’s date and spend time on his
books. As time went by, because of the Leonard’s issue, he finally dated the
nurse out for coffee. While Leonard was a mannered guy after his awake, who
knows turned into an agitated person. Fortunately, he accepted truth and he
wished to contribute something for his friend (Dr. Sayer).
In this film, I feel very touched of what Dr. Sayer did for
his patients and not giving up on them even there were failures. What I dislike
about the movie would be the ending of the story is not a good ending for patients
with encephalitis epidemic. I have sympathy towards the patients with encephalitis
epidemic. I’ve learned that we should not give up easily when there are
obstacles and we should fight for the miracle.
