Awakenings – A Miracle of Science & Hope

There are not that many films to date where it provokes emotion from its audience irrespective of the number of times a person has seen it. I for one have watched this film once before and was quite surprised to find myself feeling strongly emotive in as much so as the first time I had seen the film years before.

Awakenings had reminded me of another of Robin Williams films, that being the remarkable story of Patch Adams. A tale of how rigid the medical profession can be and how clinically they treat those under their care. I was also reminded of a novel I had read not so long ago, Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keys, who shares a similar plot line of that in Awakenings but from the viewpoint of the patient and not the doctor as done in this film.

The film Awakenings, is one that I believe transcends time, in order to relate a change in the perspective of its audiences to look at the manner in which we live life and to question why we do the things that we do.

In the film, Dr. Sayer; played by Robin Williams, was very much passionate in creating a change in the lives of the catatonic patients under his care. He would do just about anything in order accomplish this and in the end his wish was fulfilled.  

However as the film progresses and patients had recovered their wakefulness that they had lost for many years, the patients wished for more than could be supplied by the caretakers at the hospital they resided in.

Huitt (2004) had expanded on this using Maslow's infamous hierarchy of needs which states the list of needs any human needs to obtain during the course of his life, ranging from the physical needs to self-actualisation. The patients who had previously been so dependent on the care of the hospital workers and whatever family they had left, were now moving past the needs of their physical body and were instead attempting to fulfil the other needs that they had never before felt the need to fulfil. The need to be independent, to form relationships, to learn, and to love.

Similarly Alligood and May's (2000) study on the nursing theory of personal symptom of empathy, had highlighted another perspective changing theme in the film, that of caretakers not being able to see their patients as anything more than whom they care for, unable to see them as people.

To anyone who has ever had the opportunity to be a caretaker, having the ability to distinguish between taking care of a patient's physiological needs while still treating them as people worthy of respect and dignity, is not one that is easily attained. This commonly results in frustration and the intense need for independence of the patient, and yet we are unable to see this patient as anything more than the sum of their illness.

This film also calls into question certain things that we in the psychological community might not have otherwise contemplated. 

The conundrum of, should we change the way things are simply because we have the means to do so?

And are we ready to deal with the repercussions of them?

If there was a single thing I would take away from this film to be adopted into my own life, it would be the changed perspective I now have over the concept of liberty and independence, things we so freely take for granted.

It is so easy to complain and live within the realm of our weaknesses, but we should not neglect the fact that there is always a silver lining to any dark cloud, should we only take the time to find it.

References:

Huitt, W. (2004). Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Educational psychology interactive. Retrieved from http://tabacco.t-a-b-a-c-c-o.org/?p=2314

Alligood, M. R., & May, B. A. (2000). A nursing theory of personal system empathy: Interpreting a conceptualization of empathy in King’s interacting systems. Nursing Science Quarterly, 13(3), 243-247.

Cinema Paradiso – A Tale of Time and Passion

As per Stephen Covey’s words, I would like to begin with the end in mind. Throughout the 155 minutes of the film, the single most affective and defining moment personally for me was when Cinema Paradiso came crashing down to make way for a parking lot. That moment symbolised the end of an era for the protagonist. The glorious childhood that was spent in a world of camaraderie and a land of fantasy that manifests itself within moving pictures. This hit me straight in the heart as it was a fine thread that played on the emotion that was nostalgia. The inducement of this emotion can be witnessed throughout the film. As I watched the film, bits and pieces of my own memories growing up as a child flashed in my head and that helped me connect to the movie even better. It also reminded me of scenes from a TV show and a film that showed the significance of closure.

                Underneath the background music of Ennio Morricone and the beautiful town of Sicily, the simple story of a boy who navigated childhood with a friend he found in an older man was told with humour, love and the beauty of time. The lead character, Salvatore or affectionately known as Toto by his friend Alfredo, lead almost 20 years of his life vicariously through the silver screen. He learned about heroism, love, comedy and empathy from the movies that he watched as well as the human interactions that he had in the cinema. As a psychology student, I could see that he Toto did not really grow up until after he had a failed attempt in a romantic relationship and participating in compulsory military service. This sort of build a sense of identity in him so that he could discover his meaning and destiny in life with the unique mentorship of Alfredo.

Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages of Development

                Based on the film, I observed that Toto went through two stages in Erikson’s stages of development theory. Those stages were Identity vs Role Confusion and Intimacy vs Isolation. I would estimate that the adolescent Toto was about 18 years old and these two stages were pertinent to his development at that point of time. They also had an impact on his life as we witness the older Toto from the very beginning of the film to the ending scenes.

Identity vs Role Confusion

                This is one of the most crucial development period in a person’s life. This is when an individual actively seeks out their purpose in life and builds their identity within society (Erikson, 1968). A failure when figuring out one’s identity may result in role confusion. Toto took the advice from Alfredo to never return to Giancaldo or contact anyone and told him to be focused on his goal. Toto wanted to be a film maker and pursued it wholeheartedly. He became a successful director and was a revered and respected member of the society. This can be observed in the conversation that takes place during Alfredo’s funeral procession between Toto and Ciccio, the second owner of Cinema Paradiso who invests his lottery winnings after the fire accident. He addresses Toto by his real name with respect than calling him Toto simply because he was somebody right now. However, humble Toto asks to be called by his nickname like back then.

 Intimacy vs Isolation

                As social beings, we seek intimacy with people besides our family members for long term commitments. This search for a life companion happens to everyone at the young adult stage. The failure of this stage will result in avoiding intimacy and also fearing commitment as well as relationships (McCrae & Costa, 1997). This evident with Toto, as we look into the conversation he has with his mother towards the ending of the film.

                It is obvious in the video clip that he is still not over with his first love, Elena, as he reminisces about her while watching the projection. His mother points it out very clearly that he doesn’t have anyone who loves him in his life. His relationships never lasted and they were quick fixes. This displays the effect of his failure in achieving an intimate relationship which brought him to isolation. The director also cleverly uses Toto’s huge apartment to show not only his success or wealth, however, it is also used to symbolize the loneliness that he feels.

                There were various instances of psychological concepts that were portrayed in the film. The scenes in the cinema hall was a story by itself. It portrayed the behaviour of audience members in a cinema within the post-World War II era. Prejudice was shown when one man in the cinema constantly spits at the people who were seated below the balcony. Racism was planted in young children’s minds by parents. Acceptance towards a member of the society who was mentally ill. Marlboro cigarettes being sold in the cinema during a John Wayne film, which reflects on brand association and a smart pop culture reference.

                Some of the interesting scenarios in the film were a mother nursing a baby in a public place which did not seem to be an issue for people of that era. A couple who fell in love while watching a horror movie. Another couple engaging in sexual intercourse. Teenage boys masturbating to an arousing scene from a movie. A man who finds the cinema as a perfect place to sleep. A teacher who gives a very harsh punishment to a student who could not remember the time table.

                The cinematic experience of watching this film was unique to myself. I have never watched an arthouse film let alone a European one ever in my life. As the film progressed, although I felt the pace could have been slightly faster, I actually realised that the slow narration served its purpose of inducing nostalgia. As I watched other people in the hall who were watching the film, I could not help but feel connected to them and a sense of warmth spread in me knowing that everyone is experiencing this film for the first time and they connect to it. From hearing the uproar of laughter to hushed sobbing and tears trickling down their faces, I felt at peace that we were still able to empathise with fictional characters.

                I found the whole experience to be novel because it is so rare for anyone to reflect while watching a movie and be aware of things that take place in a cinema. This movie in particular raised a sense of curiosity within myself because of the setting of the film. It simply made me wanted to look at others and observe how they reacted to such a film, and this made me smile more than once.

                Overall, this was not only a film that had a passionate story, it also connected with the audience with its simplicity and proved that human emotions despite barriers of time or language, is ultimately universal. Cinema Paradiso was indeed a cinematic paradise.

Interesting stuff to watch:

In the Director's Cut, Toto actually meets his first love Elena when he returns to Giancaldo. Check out the clip if you want to see more :)

   

References: 

Erikson, E. H. (1968). Identity: Youth and crisis. New York: Norton.

McCrae, R. R., & Costa Jr, P. T. (1997). Personality trait structure as a human universal. American Psychologist, 52(5), 509.