Awakenings

Awakenings (1990)

Plot summary

(4 votes)

The movie begins in the 1930's, when Robert De Niro is a boy, who slowly starts disconnecting with the world, and goes into a sort of catatonic state. Flash ahead about 30 years later in the 1960's, Robin Williams is a psychiatrist who starts at a mental hospital, the same hospital that a catatonic De Niro is at. Robin Williams starts experimenting with a drug mixture, that eventually awakens the catatonic patients, including De Niro. De Niro eventually awakens and starts to experience life with Robin Williams. De Niro also starts to fall for a young woman, who seems to like him too, but then things start to go down hill for De Niro. He starts exhibiting unusual signs, like scratching his temple a lot and severe shaking. Eventually good things do not last very long.

Continuity mistake: After Dr. Sayer and Leonard get ice cream and go to Dr. Sayer's home, Leonard is sitting on the couch and on the table in front of him is a plate of saltine crackers. The amount of crackers and the way they are lying on the plate change.

More mistakes in Awakenings

Dr. Sayer: I'm sorry, if you were right, I would agree with you.

More quotes from Awakenings

Trivia: During the scene where Robin Williams (the doctor) has to restrain Robert DeNiro (the patient), Robin accidentally broke DeNiro's nose. DeNiro insisted that they continue with the filming until the scene was completed because he knew, from prior experience, that he wouldn't be able to film for at least a week, until the swelling and bruising went down. And DeNiro actually was glad it happened because it corrected the bump from the prior broken nose.

MovieFan612

More trivia for Awakenings

Question: Dr. Sayer turns down the date with the nurse and appears to live alone. Was he a recluse? Socially awkward?

Answer: Sayer suffered from extreme shyness. He later overcame it enough to ask Nurse Costello out for coffee.

raywest

More questions & answers from Awakenings

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