was the movie awakenings based on a true story
Awakenings is a 1990 American drama film based on Oliver Sacks ' 1973 memoir of the same title.It tells the true story of British neurologist Oliver Sacks, fictionalized as American Malcolm Sayer (portrayed by Robin Williams), who, in 1969, discovered beneficial effects of the drug L-Dopa.He administered it to catatonic patients who survived the 1917â28 epidemic of encephalitis lethargica.wakenings opened in limited release on December 22, 1990 with an opening weekend gross of $417,076. The film then expanded to a wide release on January 11, 1991, opening in second place behind Home Alone ââ'âs ninth weekend, with $8,306,532.