Rosen, Marjorie. 1973. Questions for Discussion Awakenings deals with a serious illness, encephalitis lethargica, which affected millions of lives in the first half of this century. Several plots are intertwined in the film. First, there is the central relationship between a doctor and his patient. Third, there is a conflict between a crusading doctor and a resistant hospital establishment.
Awakenings features a large supporting cast of patients, visitors, and hospital employees.
Although most of the story is set during the late 1960s, it is introduced by a scene from Leonard's childhood. The title Awakenings could be applied to several people in the film, both patients and doctors, as well as to the audience itself. Read the book to discover how much of the film is true. A number of movies have focused on the human drama of an individual who seeks to help someone afflicted with a disability, including The Miracle Worker, The Elephant Man, Rain Man , and My Left Foot . The critical response to Awakenings was split between those who thought it was a genuinely moving film experience and those who saw it as an exploitation film.