Search - Lorenzo's Oil on DVD

LORENZO'S OIL...THE ELIXIR OF LIFE...

Lawyeraau | Balmoral Castle | 04/07/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the true life story of the Odone family, Augusto, Michaela, and Lorenzo, and their battle with Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), a disease that attacks the central nervous system by systemically destroying its protective cover, the myelin sheath. It is an extremely rare disease that is transmitted exclusively to males through a gene that is carried by the mother.Augusto, an economist, and Michaela, a linguist, were a well educated, well to do, multi-lingual couple with a little son named Lorenzo who was precocious beyond his years. He spoke English and Italian fluently, as well as the language spoken in the community in Africa in which he spent his very early years. When he returned to the United States at about the age of five, his behavior started to change He came overly aggressive and given to emotional outbursts. After much angst on the part of the Odones over what could be wrong, they were finally told that their son suffered from ALD, which was the functional equivalent of having their son being given a death sentence, as there was no cure for this degenerative disease.This well educated couple refused to accept the death sentence meted out to their son by the medical establishment. With no medical background, they disregarded conventional medical wisdom and went about trying to find a cure for their son, in a quest so remarkable and so moving, as to inspire absolute awe in the viewer. A more caring or loving set of parents would be hard to find. Lorenzo is surely loved. Together, Augusto and Michaela take on the medical establishment. What they ended up discovering rocked the medical world. To find out just what it was that they specifically did, you will just have to watch the movie.Director George Miller does a masterful job in directing this film, avoiding the obvious sentimental traps and playing the film out in a very straightforward way. The ravages of this disease are fully played out and are not sugarcoated in any way. Nick Nolte gives a bravura performance as Augusto Odone, though his Italian accent needs a little work. He is superb as the father who transfers his emotion to the task of learning biochemistry in order to ascertain just what factors are at the root of his son's disease. His way of dealing with his son's illness is intellectual and methodical. Susan Sarandon is sensational as Michaela Odone, a woman of such strength, resolution, and determination that it would be hard to find another like her. Her pain is palpable, as she sees her son deteriorate, but she refuses to take the path of least resistance where Lorenzo is concerned. In the face of daunting odds, she perseveres with Lorenzo, talking to him, as well as stimulating and challenging him. A notable performance is also given by Kathleen Wilhuite who plays the part of Dierdre Murphy, Michaela's sister and Lorenzo's loving aunt. This is a sensational film that avoids all the maudlin, sentimental traps laid out in the formulaic disease of the week movies one often finds. This is a deftly directed, well acted film, informative and moving. It is a film that will stay with the viewer, long after the credits have rolled off the screen. This is a film that richly deserves a transfer to DVD. Bravo!"

INSPIRING! I had to find current info on Lorenzo, etc.

K. K. Sommer | Dallas, TX USA | 07/21/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"On 07/20/04, I visited the web site http://www.myelin.org/ and clicked on ABOUT LORENZO & HIS PARENTS where I obtained the following excerpt:

"About Lorenzo, his Parents, and Oumouri
(in answer to the many questions we receive)

Lorenzo celebrated his 25th birthday on May 29, 2003. He is deprived of most of his functions, but his mind is still there. Lorenzo communicates through blinking his eyelids to say no and wiggling his fingers to say yes. He enjoys music and being read to. Lorenzo will not regain his speech or full mobility until we are successful with remyelination.

Michaela succumbed to cancer in June 2000. Augusto, who continues the fight for his son, works out of his office at Myelin Project Headquarters located in Dunn Loring, Virginia, just outside of Washington D.C.

Lorenzo likes to receive mail from his ?friends? and well-wishers. You may write to him c/o The Myelin Project, 2136 Gallows Road, Suite E, Dunn Loring, Virginia 22027."

I encourage you to visit this web site where you can get an update on The Myelin Project, make a donation to
The Myelin Project, read a letter from Augusto Odone dated 02/19/04, and see pictures of Lorenzo, his Parents, and Oumouri.


"

A Must Have

April S Ferguson | Anchorage, Alaska United States | 03/27/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Lorenzo's Oil is one of my favorite movies. It is unique movie because it is a rare case study of people taking action in the face of the resounding "it can't be done". This movie expands the realm of the possible, it forces the viewer to wonder what assumptions am I taking for granted. What could we as individuals, institutions, companies and nations accomplish if we approached problem solving in an alternative fashion. The Odonai's story although very moving is a useful exercise in constructive problem solving. The motivating force for the Odanai's, of course, is the desparate battle for the life of their son.
The Odanai's were not idealistic. They were educated and confident that anything someone else could figure out they could too. They proceeded methodically; they taught themselves the language of medicine, the processes involved, and most difficult of all they continued their project in spite of the naysayers, the hopeless, and the well meaning who created obsticales. The Odanai's also utilized the technique of cross pollination, raising money to assemble adepts in the field to focused seminars, on the condition that they, the Odonai's, be allowed to participate and ask questions. Hardest for them it seemed was getting others to take them seriously. A pitfall for all professionals is taking feedback from others outside their fields who may have some very constructive feedback or who can make useful "connections" in information.Well, what can you accomplish when you put a group of experts together in a room and tell them solve a problem--an atom bomb? In this instance, in an environment where every expert said a cure for their son was impossible, the Odanai's went ahead and discovered a cure.Best of all this is a true story. And the story's not over. The Odani's maintain a web site and you can follow the ongoing research of both the personal journey of this family and the progress of the disease. For any parent with a child in trouble this movie is an eyeopener. For educators, innovators and business people exploring how we bring ideas into the world this movie is a classic. And Susan and Nick are great actors. My thanks to them both for participating in this extraordinary movie."

Lorenzo's Oils

Gwen | USA | 02/21/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Lorenzo's Oil's is a remerkable movie. I had heard about this movie, and the desease the little boy, Lorenzo, is effected with before. When i saw this movie for the first time in 1996, i was overwelmed. The movie is excellent, The acting is wonderful, and overall, i think it was a great idea for the movie. i have seen Loreno's Oils so many times, that i have lost track, and have been so inspired and interested in it, that i have chosen to become a doctor because of it (I'm a highschool sophmore). Also, in my Anatomy class, we have to do a 7 page report on the topic that interests us the most, and of course i chose ALD, Lorenzo's desease, and will also be using clips from the movie as part of my presentation. If this movie can make someone actually WANT to write a 7 page research paper, it must be interesting. i sugest anybody interested in the feild of medicine, or any feild for that matter, watch this movie, just once. after that one time, you'll never be able to stop. I promise."