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Lorenzo

Original title: Lorenzo's Oil
  • 1992
  • Tous publics
  • 2h 9m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
25K
YOUR RATING
Susan Sarandon, Nick Nolte, and Zack O'Malley Greenburg in Lorenzo (1992)
DocudramaMedical DramaBiographyDrama

Lorenzo Odone, a Virginia 5-year-old, develops a degenerative nerve disease so rare that nobody is working on a cure, so his parents decide to immerse themselves in research and tackle the p... Read allLorenzo Odone, a Virginia 5-year-old, develops a degenerative nerve disease so rare that nobody is working on a cure, so his parents decide to immerse themselves in research and tackle the problem themselves.Lorenzo Odone, a Virginia 5-year-old, develops a degenerative nerve disease so rare that nobody is working on a cure, so his parents decide to immerse themselves in research and tackle the problem themselves.

  • Director
    • George Miller
  • Writers
    • George Miller
    • Nick Enright
  • Stars
    • Nick Nolte
    • Susan Sarandon
    • Peter Ustinov
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    25K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • George Miller
    • Writers
      • George Miller
      • Nick Enright
    • Stars
      • Nick Nolte
      • Susan Sarandon
      • Peter Ustinov
    • 90User reviews
    • 37Critic reviews
    • 80Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 8 nominations total

    Photos107

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    Top cast96

    Edit
    Nick Nolte
    Nick Nolte
    • Augusto Odone
    Susan Sarandon
    Susan Sarandon
    • Michaela Odone
    Peter Ustinov
    Peter Ustinov
    • Professor Nikolais
    Kathleen Wilhoite
    Kathleen Wilhoite
    • Deirdre Murphy
    Gerry Bamman
    Gerry Bamman
    • Doctor Judalon
    Margo Martindale
    Margo Martindale
    • Wendy Gimble
    James Rebhorn
    James Rebhorn
    • Ellard Muscatine
    Ann Hearn
    Ann Hearn
    • Loretta Muscatine
    Maduka Steady
    Maduka Steady
    • Omouri
    Mary Wakio
    • Comorian Teacher
    Don Suddaby
    • Don Suddaby
    Colin Ward
    • Jake Gimble
    LaTanya Richardson Jackson
    LaTanya Richardson Jackson
    • Nurse Ruth
    • (as La Tanya Richardson)
    Jennifer Dundas
    Jennifer Dundas
    • Nurse Nancy Jo
    William Cameron
    William Cameron
    • Pellerman
    Becky Ann Baker
    Becky Ann Baker
    • Pellerman's Secretary
    Mary Pat Gleason
    Mary Pat Gleason
    • The Librarian
    David Shiner
    • Clown
    • Director
      • George Miller
    • Writers
      • George Miller
      • Nick Enright
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews90

    7.324.9K
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    Featured reviews

    kimnil80

    Really,really great!

    Wow!,what a film.Based on a true story about little boy Lorenzo who gets an incurable disease called ALG.Parents never gives up to get a cure for the disease.And a cure there is,in form of an oil.This is an heartwarming,interesting and very important movie.Great performances all around.Especially Nick Nolte who did a great job with his italian accent.Definately one of his best performances. Sarandon and Ustinov are also great.Not to mention the little boy who played Lorenzo,fantastic. However this movie is not so well known.For us who have seen it,we all agree this is one outstanding movie,that sticks to your mind for a long time...

    Rating 8/10
    alexandraslate

    Painful, Yet Moving True Story....

    Definetly one of the most inspiring movies ever made.

    As individuals, it would be quite easy to feel helpless while up against a disease such as ALD and a medical establishment that has agendas other than the life of a small child. But Augusto and Michaela Odone refused to just stand idly by and while there son's life slipped away from them. Instead, they made the unprecedented decision to learn as much as they could about their son's devastating illness and then set about to find a cure. Because of their efforts, thousands of boys will now be able to enjoy a life their child will not. Had they not been the exceptionally educated and intelligent people that they were I don't know if they would have been able to accomplish such an unbelievable feat. Who knows? What's important to remember, and what I think is the moral of the story is that great things can be accomplished when people become determined to make a difference.

    Though Lorenzo regained his sight, some motor skills, and the ability to swallow, his condition hasn't improved to a large degree over the years, and will not until science is able to regenerate the myelin sheath covering his brain that was all but destroyed by the ALD. At the end of the movie, Augusto was involved with a group of scientists who were about to begin trials that would put the myelin back into some puppies who were born with this defect. I, along with others pray for those suffering from this disorder, as well as for people with other diseases such as Multiple Schlerosis that this therapy could help, that they will be successful.

    Sadly, Michaela passed away not too long ago. Being from Virginia the Odone's are considered heros in this state, so her death made the papers here. I cried when I thought of how difficult it must have been for her to have to leave the child she'd spent so many years giving hours upon hours of endless care and attention. I'm sure it never crossed her mind that he would outlive her.

    If you've never seen this movie, be sure not to miss it. It's a stellar 10!! But be sure to bring a whole box of tissues, you're going to need it!
    drvr1005

    How is Lorenzo now?

    This Is an excellent movie,great acting,gripping true life story. It is an excellent depiction of the way families sometimes must struggle to win against all odds,even when the majority are saying give up,true "grit",faith carry on. I only wish I would have seen it sooner.
    8SnoopyStyle

    great sick-kid-drama

    Lorenzo Odone is a regular kid who spent three years in east Africa. Back in the States, he starts having disturbances. It's a mystery that his parents (Nick Nolte, Susan Sarandon) have difficulty solving until he is diagnosed as suffering from ALD. It's a rare incurable degenerative brain disorder that wasn't even identified 10 years before. There are no treatments and he's not expected to survive past 2 years. Then his parents goes all out to research his disease.

    This is a perfectly constructed sick-kid-drama. It excels because of the great performances. There is some science but the exposition is simple. And it's impossible not to like the old English scientist with 6 months before retirement. It is heart warming and a tear jerking. It is a great triumph of doggedness and parental love movie.
    BlueGreen

    Is it a great film...?

    I saw this film several years ago. And yet it remains with me. I am not sure that it is "great film-making"; I do know, however, that it conveyed the story so effectively that even after 5 or 6 years (if not longer) I often remember it and draw inspiration from its story.

    Susan Sarandon was superb. (But then, she usually is.) Nick Nolte's "Italian" accent was nothing short of horrendous. (It probably cost him a nomination.) But he managed to convey the incredible passion of a father - and THAT is what's important. That is what stays with me and inspires me.

    Not sure how to rate it in terms of cinematographic art - but it gets a 10 as a source of inspiration.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Don Suddaby (himself) is the actual British biochemist that has synthesized the pure oil (erucic acid) that was used to treat Lorenzo. He was born in Kingston upon Hull, England, where he has a street named after him, "Suddaby Close", which runs adjacent to "Lorenzo Way".
    • Quotes

      Augusto Odone: Michaela! They are the same enzyme! There is one enzyme for both chains. It's the same bloody enzyme!

    • Crazy credits
      During the credits pictures of children are shown, which were cured by "Lorenzo's Oil".
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Forever Young/Damage/Toys/Scent of a Woman/Used People (1992)
    • Soundtracks
      Kijana Mwana Mwali
      Written by Idylio Cortini and Roberto Marini

      Performed by Gonda Traditional Entertainers

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    FAQ19

    • How long is Lorenzo's Oil?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 10, 1993 (France)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Australia
    • Languages
      • English
      • Italian
      • Swahili
    • Also known as
      • Lorenzo's Oil
    • Filming locations
      • Carnegie Mellon University - 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA(university scenes)
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Kennedy Miller Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $30,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $7,286,388
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $79,353
      • Jan 3, 1993
    • Gross worldwide
      • $7,286,388
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 9 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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