Awakenings. I appreciate that this film challenges the helping profession's perspective on the mentally handicapped. It seems like the doctors were not open to new possibilities and explanations as to the diagnosis of these patients seeing Dr Sayer's ideas as invaluable and unnecessary. Even coming from the patient itself, when Leonard requested that a pleasure such as a simple walk outside the premises of the hospital would be granted to them, was suspiciously evaluated and doubted across the various members of the board. The film shows the progression of how the caretakers and doctors began to work together to solve this natural phenomenon, serving an important lesson to all that every patient deserves to be treated as a human being despite the lack of mental attendance.
I also applaud Robert DeNiro's performance in this film, allowing himself to immerse in the demanding character that is Leonard Lowe. A high point to this film (to me) was between the spastic moments of Leonard's 'protests' and the final dance with Paula. Awakenings can be set as an example of a film that provides its audience a reason to ponder on the meaning of life, to appreciate living even to its smallest detail and that the story eventually ends somewhere. Why do people actually like having to watch films like this? At times we choose to watch certain films due to a selective nature linked to our emotional experiences (Shiota & Kalat, 2012). Emotions were already set to motion without us (the audience) realising it; the feeling of fear and confusion (maybe a little bit of awe?) from Leonard's initial rebellious speech to the swelling of melancholy in the quiet and deliberate shift of the physical and mind that is the vicious by-product of the disease. Emotions evoked in films gives a person the pleasure of entertaining themselves with a multitude of emotions and and maybe help (for some people) to extend the awareness of their emotional spectrum.
In Awakenings, what I admire most was the character development of Leonard. He was able to gather himself together as a person, decided on things that were crucial to him at that point of life, fall in love and understand his own impending exit. Although I have to say that after losing 30 years, it would be farfetched for someone to be able to have that quick of a recovery from the fact that they've lost that many of years off their lives (however, I suspect that the film over emphasises on the value of hope to build up the plot plays a role in this). Leonard's increasing level of physical and cognitive maturation allowed him to express himself throughout the film. It is when he first saw himself as the man he has become in the mirror for the first time, and it is that self-recognition that allowed him to feel what he was feeling and understand that he was no longer the boy that he was (Shiota & Kalat, 2012). It is something of a moment of realisation for us that he is free. As freedom is a recurrent goal and theme of the film, it is expected to anticipate these patients to finally break free from the catatonic spells, to take a firm grasp on their life back and to get their basic need for freedom (Glasser & Glasser, 1999). Alas, it was not the winning ending we had hoped for.
We acknowledge that memories are the central development of self. Alzheimers is a fear that strikes deep within me, and although it can not be compared with this disease, I realise, as Leonard turned catatonic once more trapped within the unconscious of his mind in his adult diapers, that there is no longer the development of the self and I would be much more grateful to have Alzheimers in my genes rather than this tragic disease that claims Leonard and those others in the hospital. They keep on breathing, yet no memories (present, past or future) would ever allow them to show their emotions, thoughts or behaviours ever again. Death would be a finer end than this.
Siti Nur Asyiqin
Referenced:
Glasser, W. & Glasser, C. (1999). The language of choice theory. New York: HarperPerennial.Shiota, M. N. & Kalat, J. W. (2012). Emotion. United States Of America: Wadsworth.
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