Lorenzo's Oil is a 1992 American drama film directed by George Miller and starring Nick Nolte and Susan Sarandon. The movie is based on the true story of Lorenzo Odone, a young boy who is diagnosed with adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), a rare and incurable disease that affects the brain and the central nervous system.
ALD is a genetic disorder that specifically affects boys and destroys the protective covering of the nerve cells in the brain, leading to severe disability or death. The Odones are shocked to learn that there is no cure or treatment for this disease, and they are told to take their son home and make him comfortable until he dies.
Frustrated with the lack of progress in finding a cure, Lorenzo's parents, Augusto and Michaela Odone, begin pouring over medical journals and researching everything they can about ALD. They eventually come across an article that suggests that a type of oil called erucic acid could help slow the disease's progression.
Despite the fact that the oil is not yet approved by the FDA, the Odones obtain it and start giving it to Lorenzo. They also begin to lobby the scientific community and the government to support their research and acknowledge their findings.
The process is long and arduous, but the Odones eventually succeed in getting their findings published in a medical journal and gaining recognition for their work. Meanwhile, Lorenzo, who has been deteriorating rapidly, begins to show signs of improvement and is able to go to school and live a relatively normal life.
Lorenzo's Oil is a powerful film about the triumph of human perseverance and the love between a family and their sick child. The movie showcases the importance of taking matters into your own hands and fighting for what is right, even when everything seems hopeless.