Yes, it's a true story. The movie 'Awakenings' and the book it was based on by Dr. Sayer (Oliver Sacks in real life) document the remarkable cases of patients who had been in a catatonic state for many years due to encephalitis lethargica. Dr. Sacks used a new drug, L - DOPA, which brought these patients out of their long - term stupor, at least temporarily. This story is not only about medical treatment but also about the human spirit, the patients' experiences of suddenly being 'awakened' to a world that had changed a great deal since they first fell ill.
Yes, 'Awakenings' is based on a true story. It tells about the real - life experiences of patients with encephalitis lethargica and the efforts of Dr. Oliver Sacks to treat them.