About Me
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39 Pounds of Love is the inspirational and humorous story of Ami Ankilewitz, a 3-D
animator in Israel whose bodily motion is limited to a single finger on his left hand.
At birth,
Ami was diagnosed with a rare form of muscular dystrophy, later diagnosed as Spinal Muscular
Atrophy (SMA), and was predicted to survive only to the age of 6.
Now, thirty years later, he
leaves the woman he loves and returns to the United States to confront the childhood doctor
who predicted his early demise.
Along the way, he comes to terms with a major incident from
his past and pursues a lifelong dream: to ride a Harley Davidson.
39 Pounds of Love is an
emotional roller coaster, a fascinating, humorous and truly inspirational ride through life with
someone who embodies the very term, carpe diem (Seize the day).
Director, Dani Menkin, first saw Ami in a Tel Aviv bar, and was instantly drawn to him and thus,
began a relationship with Ami that would eventually lead to making the film.
The logistics of undertaking such a journey were complicated and the risks were dangerously
real. For Ami, who often requires special equipment, no detail could be overlooked or spared.
A trailer was outfitted for Amis needs. His best friend and former caretaker, Asaf, was onboard
to provide physical assistance and support.
And so, this seven-member crew set out on the
road from Los Angeles, through the American southwest and eventually as far east as Florida
in search of that doctor who had diagnosed Ami when he was born.
Along the way, Ami's dream became the crew's dream as well: to document Amis journey, to
find the doctor, to reconcile relationships, to tell his story, but above all, to give hope to others
through its telling.
From Ami's best friend Asaf, to his brother Oscar and mother Helena,
everyone surrounding Ami, both onscreen and off was forced to come to terms with
themselves, with their loves, their fears and their hopes, as they worked to keep both Ami and
his dream alive.
