Film

The Push

Name: The Push
Genre: Documentary
Released: 2018
Cast: Grant Korgan, Shawna Korgan, Tal Fletcher

Treasure hunt

The Push follows Grant Korgan, a nano-mechanics engineer and adventurer who suffers a burst fracture of his L1 vertebra in 2010. Two years later, paralyzed from the waist down, he becomes the first spinal cord–injured person to reach the South Pole by wheelchair, accompanied by two fellow explorers. It's an intimate portrait of adaptation, determination, and what the body can do when the mind refuses to accept limits.

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you want a documentary where the slow, unglamorous work of rebuilding a body matters as much as the destination, told with a warm, plain-spoken intimacy.

Skip it if you mainly want the expedition itself, since a good stretch of it may go to training, rehab and planning that can feel like a detour.

What it asks of you: At a brisk 84 minutes, it is short enough to finish in one sitting, but it lingers on physical effort and cold, so expect long stretches of quiet endurance rather than quick cuts.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Touching the Void2003

A taut documentary about two climbers trapped on a Peruvian mountain after a catastrophic accident. Like The Push, it's about survival against geological odds and the psychological battle that follows physical trauma.

But It's slower and more contemplative than you might expect. Long stretches of silence and reflection may test your patience if you want constant action.

Free Solo2018

Documents a rock climber attempting an ascent with no rope or safety equipment—pure stakes, pure will. Both films ask what we're willing to risk and why we need to push past what seems impossible.

But The vertiginous camerawork and relentless tension can be physically uncomfortable. It's exhausting in a way that some viewers find punishing rather than inspiring.

The Dawn Wall2017

Two climbers attempt a previously unclimbed vertical wall on El Capitan over nineteen days. Shares The Push's focus on partnership, incremental progress, and redefining what a body can endure.

But Climbing documentaries require patience with technical detail and long sequences of slow vertical movement. If you need plot momentum, this isn't it.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from The Push

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Unbroken: Path to Redemption2018

Both follow someone learning to live after their body has been broken by an external force, finding meaning not in conquest but in the act of moving forward.

The sequel to Unbroken, following Louis Zamperini after his WWII trauma as he rebuilds his life through running and faith. A quieter film about recovery that mirrors Grant's arc of adaptation and finding purpose after catastrophe.

But It's deeply Christian in its framework. If that register doesn't match your own beliefs, the film's message may feel didactic or alienating.

Murderball2005

A documentary about wheelchair rugby players preparing for the Paralympics. It reframes disability not as tragedy but as the starting point for competition, camaraderie, and excellence—the same lens The Push uses.

But The sports footage can feel repetitive if you don't care about rugby. Some scenes lean toward inspiration-porn territory that might feel manipulative.

The Alpinist2021

Follows Marc-André Leclerc, a free soloist climber, as he pushes into increasingly dangerous territory. Both films explore the psychology of people who define themselves by testing limits.

But It's meditative and sparse—sometimes uncomfortably so. Long stretches offer no narration or explanation, which some find pretentious.

My Octopus Teacher2020

A filmmaker forms a profound connection with an octopus over a year of ocean dives. Shares The Push's sense of wonder at what's possible when you commit fully to something that terrifies you.

But The feel-good tone can tip into treacle. If you're skeptical of interspecies sentimentality, this will test that skepticism hard.

14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible2021

Documents Nepalese climber Nirmal Purja's attempt to summit all fourteen of the world's 8,000-meter peaks in seven months. Raw ambition and an unconventional approach to what's considered achievable.

But The mountain footage becomes visually repetitive. At a certain point, another peak looks like the last peak, and exhaustion sets in.

180° South2010

A young man retraces an expedition his hero took decades earlier, seeking to understand adventure and risk. Philosophical and introspective about why people need to test themselves against nature.

But It's contemplative to the point of self-indulgence. Some will find the navel-gazing privileged and the pacing glacial.

Senna2010

A portrait of racing driver Ayrton Senna's obsessive pursuit of perfection. Both films examine what drives someone to exceed what seems humanly possible, and the cost of that drive.

But It's structured around tragic inevitability, which can feel manipulative. Fans of Senna may find the critical distance frustrating.

The Endless2017

Both place a human body against an indifferent environment that refuses to be conquered. The external obstacle becomes metaphorical—the real push is internal and never fully resolved.

A science-fiction film about two men investigating a mysterious cult on a remote retreat, discovering the landscape itself resists escape. Surreal and formally inventive, it uses the desert as a character and obstacle.

But It's deliberately cryptic and circular. If you need clarity and forward momentum, you'll find it alienating and possibly enraging.

The Rescuers Down Under1990

Both are fundamentally about a group of mismatched people (or beings) attempting something that should be impossible, held together by loyalty and the refusal to turn back.

An animated Disney adventure about two mice flying to Australia to rescue an eagle and a boy. A joy to watch—gorgeous animation, genuine stakes, a story about teamwork and courage that doesn't condescend.

But It's animated and from 1990, which may feel childish if you approach it with resistance. It also has a villain who is a bit much for some modern sensibilities.