Lorenzo's Oil Essay

Lorenzo’s Oil, a 1992 film directed by George Miller, is a life-drama based on the true story of a 6 year-old boy, Lorenzo Odone, and his parents Michaela and Augusto, fighting a life-threatening battle against a rare medical, Adrenoleukodystrophy, or ALD in short, a condition that slowly deteriorate the nervous system (Healthyline). Along the journey to finding a magical cure, not only is Lorenzo’s life placed on the line, but so is Michaela and Augusto’s marriage. From my perspective, Lorenzo’s Oil raises several issues about science and the value of life. 

 Firstly, in terms of science, the film demonstrates how scientists and doctors do not always have the answers to everything. In the film, doctors tend to tell Michaela and Augusto to be patient with the cure, that the most they can do is to cling onto the hope of any further breakthrough in the scientific and medical research on ALD. Unlike most other parents whose child or children are affected with ALD, the Odones eventually refuse to believe in what doctors and their research papers have to say about the disease and begin looking for answers on their own. With their own approach by looking into every possible sources about the disease and also through precise observations, they are finally able …show more content…
Not only does it show the power of being hopeful and courageous in tragic events, it shows the importance of having the perseverance for one’s own standpoint, that sometimes one must trust one’s instincts over other people’s words. Also, the Odones demonstrate the ability to think outside the box, turning an unfortunate event the other way around. Most significantly, it teaches audience to never stop believing; despite bumps along the way, although Michaela and Augusto might not agree on the same things sometimes or they might argue about several decisions, together, they are able to thrive in the end due to having a common goal that is to save Lorenzo’s