Director George Miller began his professional career in his homeland - in Australia. His first serious full-length work, Mad Max, became the standard of the post-apocalyptic action genre with a pronounced dramatic component and a successful start for Mel Gibson’s fast career growth and worldwide recognition. On the spontaneous wave of popularity, the director made a trilogy out of the film, and after its triumph he accepted the tempting offer of Hollywood - he shot the mystical comedy "Witches of Eastwick". George was lucky during the filming to collaborate with cinema stars such as Cher, Jack Nicholson, Susan Sarandon and Michelle Pfeiffer. After Susan, without hesitation, she agreed to take part in the new project of the director - the drama “Lorenzo Oil”.
Medical-specific debry
For filming a movie drama, Miller was allocated a fairly decent budget by the standards of that time, which amounted to $ 30 million. The audience, languishing in anticipation, expected the next vivid movie, but Lorenzo Oil (critics' confirmation of this) did not live up to their hopes. Discouraged people shared negative impressions, and the box office left much to be desired, according to them the picture was a failure. The director, who is a doctor himself by training, frankly ignoring the expectations of fans of spectacular cinema, deliberately delved into the specific jungle of medicine.
Cruel in every way
“Lorenzo Oil” is a very cruel film. Both the plot story and the production are merciless in all respects. The picture is cruel to the viewer, who may have decided to watch just a dramatic story, but instead become a direct witness to the unbearable, heartbreaking suffering of Lorenzo, which can shake even the most cynical, heartless and unperturbed observer. Especially ruthless is the tape to people (more precisely, to parents and their children) who recently found out about a terrible diagnosis. This film may turn out to be the last nail in the lid of their coffin.
Plot
In the plot of the 1992 Lorenzo Oil film, the director intentionally refuses a detailed depiction of the melodramatic experiences of Mikaela and Augusto Odone, who will one day learn the terrible news: their five-year-old baby Lorenzo is terminally ill, ALD (adrenoleukodystrophy) cannot be cured. Disconsolate parents understand that they are unlikely to be able to save the child. The couple decides to try a new experimental drug on it to help other sick children. They are independently looking for a cure and, as a result, make a scientific discovery, invent a drug, naming it after their son - “Lorenzo Oil”. We can say that the plot of the picture requires patience and tolerance from the viewer so that he can appreciate not only the private story of the dying child and his unhappy parents, but also the stubborn subtext of the creator under the slogan “Life is a constant struggle”.
Actors and roles. Son
Too sentimental viewers find it difficult to recommend Lorenzo Oil to watch. The reviews of those who watched note the depressing effect of those episodes in which attention is focused on Lorenzo Odone's disease, his moral and physical sufferings are calmly demonstrated. In this regard, it is certainly worth noting the impeccable and brilliant work of seven-year-old Zach Greenburg, who played the role of a dying child. The little actor coped with his task so professionally, his illness is so reliably depicted that the viewer gives the impression of documentary filming.
Parents
The character of the mother of a terminally ill child was embodied on the screen by Susan Sarandon. The character and the play of the actress are admirable, similar roles are Susan's horse. Her heroine is a very persistent and strong woman. Most would give up in her place, but Michaela, on the contrary, turned into an incorrigible optimist. The creators of the painting "Lorenzo Oil" can be proud of this character. Michaela is a vivid example of how not to lose self-control, faith and hope for the best. The image of the mother in this film clearly demonstrates that her life position is based on the statement that: in the dark tunnel, there will certainly be a tiny, but a ray of hope.
No less convincing in the film "Lorenzo Oil" looks Nick Nolti - the performer of the role of Augusto Odone, Lorenzo's father. Nick’s character, according to the scriptwriter's idea, is Italian by origin, and the actor very skillfully portrayed and conveyed his emotionality and expressiveness. Incredibly powerful was the episode in which Augusto, after spending many hours alone in the library, finally realizes the whole tragedy of the situation and, unable to restrain his emotions anymore, falls onto the stairs. The father of a dying boy soberly assesses the situation, he is a pragmatist, but he keeps everything in himself. Not showing despair in front of his wife, with her, Augusto continues to seek a way out.
Advantages and disadvantages
This film has several advantages and disadvantages. Among the advantages are the following:
- The tape is based on real events.
- An incredible emotional tension is demonstrated during the quarrels of the parents, however, they safely resolve all the differences.
- The film inspires the idea that even the most hopeless and terminally ill people should not lose hope.
- The picture clearly demonstrates the real, unadorned attitude of society towards "not quite people."
- The standard is positioned encouraging behavior and support of parents, their endurance, stamina.
- The culmination of the film shows a lot of positive evidence about saving the lives of real children thanks to the invented medicine.
Among the shortcomings, particularly picky critics name 3 cases of screen profanity and true cruelty.
No detailed theoretical considerations
The 1992 film “Lorenzo's Oil” (Lorenzo's Oil) based on real events, it made millions cry, but also became an excellent motivation for many who decided to study biochemistry. This impressive and inspirational film by an outstanding Australian director was shot according to the wonderful original script by Nick Enright (Black Rock), who was nominated for his work on this film for an Oscar in 1993. Susan Sarandon was also nominated for this high prize . You can’t give any advice regarding watching a movie, it is very ambiguous, so each person will decide for himself. However, your choice will not affect the general recognition of the picture as one of the most powerful and life-affirming in the whole world cinema.