I'll Push You: A Real-Life Inspiration

This story about Patrick Gray and Justin Skeesuck's friendship may be the one of the greatest love stories ever told -- or at least the most aspirational. They've been best buddies since they were babies, and they prove quite literally that they'd go to the ends of the Earth for each other. When Justin gets the spark of an idea to cross Europe as part of the El Camino de Santiago pilgrimage -- something he'd never heard about before seeing a PBS special -- he pitches it to Patrick, who automatically offers, "I'll push you." It takes some time for the magnitude of what Patric has committed to to set in: He'll be serving as a pack mule, logistics wrangler, mechanic, and nurse. Viewers may find themselves agape at Justin's big ask, debating internally whether they'd make such a request of their loved ones -- and if they did, whether their friends would agree or turn away. Or, if they were in Patrick's shoes, would they so selflessly offer to help?

But the beauty of I'll Push You -- one of the many beauties, really -- is that it provides some answers to these questions. Justin shares his feelings about being in a wheelchair, his internal struggle about being "a burden," and the invaluable lessons he's only learned because of his disease. And while Patrick may seem like a saint in every way, he reveals his imperfections and shares the revelations that have only come to him because of this specific experience. Given that this is Chris Patrick and Terry Parish's one and only film to date, and they took on every role -- sound, camera, editing, and directing -- perhaps we can forgive the lack of story structure. In fact, despite the lack of storytelling sophistication, it's the rarities that this film offers that makes it special. It's all too rare to hear men sharing raw, authentic emotions or to get an up-close look at how deeply male friendships can operate. It's even more rare to see a film that demonstrates how service can be spiritually rewarding. And a story revolving around a man with a disability is the most extraordinary of all. It's all wrapped up in a travelogue that takes viewers to the nooks and crannies of gorgeous France and Spain. Frankly, that makes this small, heartwarming doc a unicorn: If you don't see it, does such a marvel exist?