At birth Ami Ankilewitz was diagnosed with a rare form of muscular dystrophy, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). A doctor told his mother Helena that he would not live beyond the age of six. She refused to believe him. On his thirty-fourth birthday in Tel Aviv, Israel, Ami announces that he wants to take a trip to America and fulfill some of his dreams: First, to travel across America in a van. Second, to ride a Harley Davidson motorcycle. And third, to find the doctor whose prediction of how long he would live turned out to be false.
Ami's mother is very anxious that the arduous journey would have an adverse effect on his health. But her son, who weighs 39 pounds, has a fourth reason for taking the trip: he wants to get his mind off the fact that Christina, his pretty 21-year old Romanian caretaker, has left him after two years of looking after him. Ami, whose bodily motion is limited to a single finger on his left hand, has tried to express what this relationship meant to him in a 3D animated film.
This inspiring film vividly demonstrates how human yearning can enable individuals to accomplish amazing things once they set their minds to it.
Accompanied by his best friend Asafa and film director Dani Menkin's documentary crew, Ami arrives in Los Angeles to begin his journey. While visiting the Grand Canyon, Ami has trouble breathing and there is a minor medical emergency. They make a special trip to Texas where he reconciles with his brother Oscar who felt left out of his mother's affection since she gave so much of her time and energy to Ami. Thanks to Asafa, she arrives for a family reunion. And after a little detective work, the team finds the sought after doctor living in Miami.
The trip turns out to be Ami's own private climb of Mt. Everest.
Special features on the DVD include deleted scenes; exclusive interviews; featurettes; a commentary by director Dani Menkin; and Ami's animated short film.
