By his own admission, Bonner Paddock would rather be sitting on the beach with a cold drink than climbing the world's tallest freestanding mountain—and no one could blame him. Born with cerebral palsy (the result of oxygen cut off from his brain during birth), the Southern California resident struggles with ordinary movement in daily life, so the idea of ascending to the near-20,000-foot summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro—against medical advice, with a weak lower body, spastic leg muscles, poor balance, and little climbing experience—would seem irrational, except for Paddock's sense of mission. A tireless advocate for disabled children, Paddock takes on Kilimanjaro to raise money for a new “life without limits” childcare center in Orange County. Narrated by actor Michael Clarke Duncan and directed by Kent Bassett, the engrossing documentary Beyond Limits follows Paddock's challenges and adventures on the Tanzania peak, surrounded by a team of friends, helpers, and a nurse to monitor the considerable stress of the climb on his body. Both a story of courage and determination, and a visually striking record of an arduous ascent (including surreal footage of a midnight push along the final 700 feet to the summit), this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh)
Beyond Limits
(2009) 40 min. DVD: $19.98. FilmWorks Entertainment (avail. from most distributors). Volume 26, Issue 6
Beyond Limits
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