Movie: 39 Pounds of Love (2005)

• Director: Dani Menkin
• Release Date: 8 April 2005 (Israel)
• Writers: Ilan Heitner (co-writer) Dani Menkin (writer)
• Run Time: 70 min
• Country: USA
• Genre: Documentary , Biography , Romance  

Tagline: At birth he was given 6 years to live… at 34, he takes the journey of a lifetime.

Trivia: Dani Menkin first saw Ami in a Tel Aviv bar, and was instantly drawn to him. Arranging to meet Ami at his home some days later, Dani began a friendship with Ami that would eventually lead to making the film. 

“39 POUNDS OF LOVE is the heartwarming story of Ami Ankilewitz, an American-born Israeli who at the age of 1 was diagnosed with a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy that renders him immobile, except for one finger, which he uses to work as a 3D animator. His doctor predicated he’d die before the age of six. Over thirty years have passed and Ami, weighing only 39 pounds, still survives and “loves life”, he is considered one of the world’s greatest medical miracles. The film follows a riveting cross-country journey that Ami took with friends across the USA to look for the doctor who thought he wouldn’t survive. Written by Kim Fishman”