let me answer to my knowledge,
1: in regular electric motor its the capacitor which governs the motion direction, put it other way round and motor will shift it rotational direction, and if capacitor is dead and motor is dead push it in either position and it will happily spin, applying it to the engine now i second @isi0000 its the starter motor, but if it goes other way around i guess you have to make adjustments to the alternator and distributor etc.
2: just think of this scenario, turn off your car, put it in reverse and try to push it in forward direction, take these things into calculation, the direction of motion, the gear selected, the gear box and assume clutch is engaged as we have to do engage it to shift motion from gearbox to engine for a kick start, and here you have the answer