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'Awakenings' Channel 5, Saturday 15th March 2008

From:     Remi
Category: Films
Date:     18 March 2008
Time:     05:24 PM

Review:

Saw this on video back in the early 90s. My brother explained some of the finer points of the 
pharmacology to me back then. I understand more about medicine this time round, so I saw it as 
revision for my forthcoming neurology/ neurosurgery rotation. Wasn't sure how convincing de Niro 
was as someone at rediscovering their balance after years of being immobile, but the story was 
undoubtedly moving. However, I was unimpressed with the film's take-home message in reaction to 
the debilitating side-effects, which was 'isn't life beautiful'. My take was get to work on a new 
medicine that doesn't have those debilitating side-effects. 


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