MovieChat Forums > Awakenings (1991) Discussion > What an amazing story !! Had no idea. An...

What an amazing story !! Had no idea. Anybody answer my question ??

posted 10 years ago by mpboylanjr-54038
5 replies | jump to latest

I'm obviously very late on this brilliant film which I've heard about and am kicking myself for never sitting down and watching tonight. I was only 5 when the movie was made but always heard it was really good.
The fact that this happened to these people and they lived with being catotanic for decades only to be brought back by this brilliant doctor is totally mind blowing. So happy to have watched this film finally and I can't beleive that this was a true story
Quick question... Was this a big story at the time if anybody remembers ?? I know it was a long time ago but if anybody has some real life knowledge of this and can share I'd love to hear about it?? Thx

THERE'S NO ROOM IN MY CIRCUS TENT FOR YOU !!!!

[–] tyrexden 10 years ago

I don't think this was a big story... maybe in scientific circles.... Joe Public, i'm sure, was made aware of the story mostly from the film, which was made years later.

That said, just this past week, it was announced that the Robin Williams character, in true life in on his deathbed. But even that newstory, is made in reference to: "Awakenings doctor on his deathbed"....

[–] jllansberry 10 years ago

Dr. Sachs isn't dead

[–] northsouth1 9 years ago

Today, he is.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] SealordJohn 9 years ago

This film was about the after affects of the encephalitis epidemic from the early 20th century.

From what I have learned from the internet, both the encephalitis epidemic and the Spanish flu epidemic occurred about the same time. The Spanish flu is believed to have killed between 40 and 70 million people worldwide while the encephalitis epidemic is believed to have killed between 500,000 and 2 million people worldwide. I believe this is the reason why the encephalitis epidemic did not receive as much news coverage as the Spanish flu epidemic.