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See also: SHADOWS FILM FESTIVAL | Last update 18.Sep.24

Will & Harper
Review by Rich Cline | 4/5

dir Josh Greenbaum
prd Jessica Elbaum, Will Ferrell, Rafael Marmor, Josh Greenbaum, Chris Leggett
with Will Ferrell, Harper Steele, Kristen Wiig, Molly Shannon, Will Forte, Tina Fey, Seth Meyers, Tim Meadows, Paula Pell, Colin Jost, Lorne Michaels
release US/UK 13.Sep.24
24/US Netflix 1h54

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Beautifully shot and edited, this documentary traces a long friendship through the prism of an urgent topic, as Will Ferrell crosses the country with his old pal Harper Steele, just after she came out as a trans woman. Avoiding politics, director Josh Greenbaum maintains focus on Will and Harper's profoundly human experience, as they tease each other, ask strikingly honest questions and surprise each other with their answers.

Will met kindred-spirit comedy writer Harper at Saturday Night Live nearly 30 years ago, and their friendship has deepened significantly over the decades. So after Harper sends Will an email explaining her gender identity and decision to change her life, Will suggests driving from New York to California, offering them a chance to explore their friendship. This also allows Harper to revisit the rural America she loves so much, this time without hiding herself. And along the way, they call up their friend Kristen Wiig and ask her to compose a theme song for them.

Over the course of their 16-day drive, the film captures the close connection between Will and Harper, highlighting their shared sense of absurd humour and a willingness to ask each other the tough questions. So the audience reaction is like theirs: both laughing and crying. Harper's gender transition is never an issue between them, while the attitudes of people they meet along the way offer bracing counterpoints, finding encouragement in unexpected places and of course unspeakable hatred on social media. And a couple of chance encounters are almost startlingly serendipitous. These terrific moments provide extra layers of meaning.

Director Josh Greenbaum and editor Monique Zavistovski craft a strong narrative out of hundreds of hours of material, finding engaging threads along the way. Most notable is how Will and Harper like to sit in camp chairs in offbeat eye-catching places, simply to chat and watch the world go by. Various encounters along the road carry powerful kicks of meaning, even if some of them feel a bit truncated. But the intimacy makes this a vital, important documentary that approaches a big issue in a way that's entertaining, involving and moving.

themes, language 14.Sep.24

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See also: SHADOWS FILM FESTIVAL