The Film

The Animated Mind of Oliver Sacks is a feature-length documentary film that takes us inside the mind of the man who revolutionized the way we think about the human brain: world-renowned author and neurologist Oliver Sacks, M.D.

Oliver was unique and idiosyncratic: a weightlifter, a naturalist, a doctor who practiced medicine in long term care hospitals rather than cutting edge medical facilities. He was shy and socially awkward, but also had wit and a charm that emerges throughout the film. He was a gay man who didn’t come out until the end of his life. Where other doctors saw incurable neurological disorder, Oliver saw humanity. He was one of the first neurologists to publicly acknowledge and champion the neuro-diverse world we live in. His work on autism, Tourette’s syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, music & the brain, and more, changed the way we see humanity.

Filmmaker Dempsey Rice builds a stunning visual world that brings to life Oliver’s powerful stories, ultimately inspiring in each of us an irrepressible enthusiasm for, and curiosity about, the human mind. Her decade of exclusive interviews and her unique access to Oliver’s self-made recordings combine with animation, archival material, and cinematic new filming to take this film deep into Oliver Sacks’ world in a way not seen before.