Posted by jp in Our Friend Ami
Five years ago, my brother Ed and I were involved in a “little” project called 39 Pounds of Love. Many of you have seen this film and have been inspired by Ami Ankiliwitz’ life story. Sadly, we lost our friend and hero, Sept. 21, 2009. He was 41.
Ami was born with Spinal Muscular Atrophy — an extremely rare and often fatal condition that limits physical growth and movement. Despite a prognosis that he would live only 6 years, Ami not only survived, he thrived. Due to his medical condition, he weighed only 39 pounds as an adult and had the use of only one finger, but Ami “lived big.” He forever touched everyone who knew his story.
In 2005, we partnered with director Dani Menkin to produce the documentary 39 Pounds of Love, centering on Ami’s quest across America to make peace with his brother and confront the doctor who predicted his early death. Along the way, he visited the Grand Canyon and rode a Harley-Davidson (one of his life’s dreams and passions).
The film was on the Academy Awards “short list” for best documentary, won the Israeli Oscar, and garnered numerous honors from the international film community. It was broadcast by HBO and screened all over the world to critical praise. But it is Ami himself — his life and the community that surrounded him — that leaves an unforgettable image in my memory book.
When 39 Pounds of Love premiered in Los Angeles — to a sold-out crowd — I got to spend time with Ami. I marveled at the parade of Harley riders who showed up to honor him, and was mesmerized by the profound effect of his story on all who saw it. I was even more amazed by Ami’s raw charisma and how he drew people to himself, effortlessly lifting them to a higher place. Phil Hall, from Film Threat, called Ami “the movie star of the year.” And he was right!
When Ed and I traveled to Tel Aviv for our work on the film, To Die in Jerusalem, Ami threw a party in our honor. We joined him, his mom, Helena, and about 40 of the “Ami crowd” — a group that often gathers and celebrates. It seemed surreal when Ami asked Ed and me to join him for a private conversation in the very bedroom where so many scenes from the film had been shot. During our conversation, Ami was totally focused on us, our families and staff in Boise — how we were doing, what we were working on, etc. As we chatted for nearly two hours, people came and went, giving various forms of care to Ami.
To his mom, he spoke Spanish; to his caretaker, Russian. To his Israeli friends he spoke Hebrew; and to us, perfect English — switching seamlessly among the four languages. With his index finger, he showed us how he became an avid 3D animator, telling his personal stories of love … the very same love that formed the center of his life. “For me, love is more than just a word. It is the essence of our existence,” he told us. I remember that profound time of sharing, and think of it often.
Ami said in his movie, “Never give up hope for life or love.” Those poignant words are deeply embedded in my heart — because I knew Ami, and because he so fearlessly lived them out.
Goodbye, dear friend.
Enjoy the following film trailer and video of Ami’s Harley Ride.
