In Awakenings, L-dopa was largely successful in early experimentation. All of the patients that took the drug "woke up" from their catatonic states and, as a result, experienced life again after decades of suffering from encephalitis. The experiment was first used on Leonard Lowe (Deniro) after the hospital decided to limit Sayer's funding. During the experiment by Sayer, Leonard was given increasing dosages of L-dopa, dosages that had a high probability of killing Leonard. Leonard's condition exacerbated this, DeNiro played him in such a way, that no audience member could object to an experiment involving Leonard. Ebert even says of Deniro's performance that "in a virtuoso performance... it's up to De Niro to make Leonard not an object of sympathy" (Ebert) rather a wondrous person even in his cocoon. So because of his illness, Sayer continued until eventually Leonard broke away from his illness. This dangerous experimentation was approved, because although Leonard could have died, his close resemblance to death gave him nothing to lose, making him and the other patients perfect candidates for drug testing.

The movie justifies the use of experimental drugs, in that the patients have nothing to lose. If they die they will be no worse than their earlier state, and if the medicine does not work, it will not matter since they will not even notice. The same rules apply for many films that center around experimental procedures.. Most notably, the film At First Sight, which shows a character with blindness, who is given a small chance of regaining his sight. Although, surgery could irreparably damage his retinas, his blindness cannot possibly increase, but because he has nothing left to lose, he goes on with the surgery. This idea, of "nothing to lose, and everything to gain" is what fuels these experiments. The director uses this as a sort of advocacy for experimentation on drugs, he makes you feel a connection with the characters, so if you were in there position you would not care about possible damage or death, only the glimmer of hope experimentation can bring will help you.

The director uses several sentimental scenes in the movie to complement his advocacy of medical experimentation. The director argues that, because of the medicine, Leonard and several other patients can now live again. Even though the experiment risked their lives, they gained much more. The patients learned how to live life and love. For example, after waking, many of the patients became aware of their surroundings, noticing light for the first time in decades. This scene allowed us to sympathize with the characters and to agree with the director's stance on experimental medicine. In the film, the director wants to make you feel like the generous hospital donors, who see the rapid recovery of Leonard and now agree that no expense is too large or risk to great, as long as it can help these patients.

Moreover, both Awakenings and At First Sight use love as another way to convince the audience about experimental testing. In Awakenings, Leonard finds love with Paula, and as a result he experiences life to the fullest. He learns to love thanks to Dr. Sayer's experiments. He is able to do what he could not do before, which testifies to all of those who can be helped by experimental procedures. Furthermore, this love is something that many people have and experience within their lives. Leading to a connection between the audience and the disabled characters in the movie, which undoubtedly makes the audience feel for the character's plight. However, Leonard could not love in his catatonic state and now, thanks to L-dopa, he can do what many take for granted. Also, in At First Sight, Virgil's surgery allows him to connect with his girlfriend and further their relationship as he heals. He is now able to share more with his family and love due to the surgery. This experimental procedure has enriched his life through love, also it has caused him to undergo new experiences that could not have been available with his disability.

Not only is the success of the medicine a reason for advocacy of experimental procedure, but also failure. In both movies, the audience is deeply moved as the miraculous cure begins to wear off, and both Virgil and Leonard return to their normal form. At this point in the respective movies the characters learn to fully appreciate the care they were given. They are now appreciative and happy, because even though it was a short time, they were cured for a brief moment, and were able to experience life every day. Even as Leonard degenerates towards the end he still appreciates what happened to him because he was able to taste life.

Additionally, because of the drug's failures, both movies took the experiments as trial runs. The patients did not die from the experiments, and the researchers learned something from each. They learned how people react to certain medication, and know more for the future. This can greatly advance scientific research into a subject that could potentially help countless others.

In retrospect, Awakenings greatly relied on such things as sympathy and sentimentalism to make viewers understand their point. They wanted you to believe that experimental medical procedures were all worth it when there is so much to gain and so little to lose. Similarly, we should advocate the research in the movie because it goes to help many people experience normal lives, even if for only short times. Also, the two movies achieved their goal because they were based on real life events, the focus of the movie was to show people with disabilities and treatments. This sharply contrasts with several other movies portraying fictional characters with disabilities, such as the movie Charly (1968) where the medicine is not at the forefront, and is so fictionalized Ebert says this about it "We care about Charly. But the whole scientific hocus-pocus, which causes his crisis, is irrelevant and weakens the movie by distracting us." (Ebert). This shows how in Awakenings you come to care about the character and his treatment, because of his treatment, and it is not a side note as in other movies. This use of a real life story helped to enhance the image of the experiment as ultimately good, and enriching.

by Sebastian Restrepo

Works Cited

At First Sight. Dir. Irwin Winkler. Perf. Mira Sorvino, Val Kilmer. DVD. MGM, 1999.

Awakenings. Dir. Penny Marshall. Perf. Robin Williams, Robert Deniro. DVD. Columbia Pictures, 1990.

Charly. Dir. Ralph Nelson. Perf. Cliff Robertson, Claire Bloom. Videocassette. ABC Pictures, 1968.

Ebert, Roger. "Awakenings." Roger Ebert. 20 Dec. 1990. Chicago Sun Times. 27 Apr. 2007. .

Ebert, Roger. "Charly." Roger Ebert. 31 Dec. 1968. Chicago Sun Times. 27 Apr. 2007. .

Ebert, Roger. "Charly." Roger Ebert. 31 Dec. 1968. Chicago Sun Times. 27 Apr. 2007. .