Awakenings

Awakenings is a 1990 fact-based film which tells the story of a doctor who in 1969 discovers beneficial effects of the then-new drug L-Dopa on patients who are catatonic after surviving the 1917-1928 epidemic of encephalitis lethargica.

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It stars Robert De Niro, Robin Williams, Julie Kavner, Ruth Nelson, John Heard, and Penelope Ann Miller, and was directed by Penny Marshall.

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The movie was adapted by Steven Zaillian from the book of the same name by neurologist Oliver Sacks, in which he tells about his real-life experiences with similar patients. The book was also used by Harold Pinter as the basis of his one-act play A Kind of Alaska, performed in 1982.

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The film was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Robert De Niro), Best Picture and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium.

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1990: :For information on the number, see 1990 (number)....

1969: 1969 was a common year starting on Wednesday...

L-Dopa: L-DOPA (levodopa, 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine). As a drug it is used to treat Parkinson's disease....