A 1992 film based on a true story about a boy named Lorenzo Odone in New York City, who suddenly begins to lose muscular control, has seizures, and enters a stable paralytic, trance-like state. His Italian-American parents, Augusto and Michaela, gradually learn they are not alone and that Lorenzo's problem is a rare and (at that time) little-understood genetic condition known as adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD). The Odone family refuses to give up and accept Lorenzo's condition. His father, who has no medical training, studies himself and years later helps scientists to develop a treatment based on rapeseed oil. Ultimately, it brought Lorenzo and others "back to life" for a while, but lost its efficacy.

The movie was criticized for its dramatic license in demonizing doctors and support groups and for exaggerating the effects of the oil treatment. Michaela Odone died June 10, 2000, age 61. Lorenzo, now 22, is able to communicate with hand signals and pull his arm across his chest.