Will & Harper - Review

Rating: 5 out of 5

UNDERSTANDING, acceptance and inclusion... three of the hallmarks of a civilized society. And yet the world is shot through with examples of intolerance, a refusal to accept and a lack of understanding and empathy, especially when it comes to identity.

Whether dealing with someone's religious identity, their neuro status, or their sexuality, there are now all too many examples of lives blighted, ruined and even being ended because of a systemic failure to acknowledge and embrace difference. Political lurches towards the right and towards extremism (which, by definition, invites division and conflict) are only making the world a more precarious place. 

Which leads me to the documentary Will & Harper, a film that feels so timely and so welcome. It may have a small part to play in the awareness process, but every little helps.

The film is essentially the story of two friends, actor and comedian Will Ferrell and former Saturday Night Live writer Harper Steele, who decide to go on a road trip together a year and a half after Steele has come out as trans and decided to transition to a woman.

The trip is designed to re-evaluate the pair's friendship, allowing Ferrell to ask questions [as much for himself as for the audience] and rediscover the boundaries of their relationship, as well as to embolden Steele and validate her decision. The trip takes them from upstate New York to Trump-supporting Texas, which adds an element of danger. 

For while the roads travelled have long been favourites of Steele's, as both a means of escape and connecting with the beauty and diversity of America, certain sections may not now be so welcoming. In this regard, the film examines society's conflicting attitudes towards trans issues and its community, while simultaneously inviting Steele to examine her own place within it.

The result is as insightful and moving as this might suggest, seldom being afraid to explore the darker parts of Steele's own emotional journey, as she recalls the life-long journey that has taken her to the point of coming out. It deals with psychological and mental health issues that will be familiar to many - whether it's the fear of change, of not being accepted and [worse] becoming rejected and ostracised, incumbent with any life-changing decision or diagnosis.

But there's plenty of room for humour too, as you might expect from the two comedic talents involved, which allows for something celebratory and revelatory. There is a very real sense of the camaraderie and openness that exists between the two, which affords Ferrell the leeway to ask probing questions in the name of enlightenment. And while some may, indeed, seem churlish (such as those directed towards Steele's boobs), they're also designed to satisfy curiosity and foster that idea of acceptance and understanding.

Comedy has long been used as a tool for probing insight and while, done wrongly, it can appear insensitive and even crass, Will & Harper's use of it is expertly incorporated to allow for education and commentary, something made evident during moments of emotional breakdown - whether it's Ferrell's own perceived failure to afford his friend more protection (especially in light of a steak meal in a hostile environment), or Steele's own struggles to fit in.

For those willing to take the trip with this duo, there is much to be learned and strength to be found.

Not everything is perfect, of course. The presence of such a widely recognised comedic force as Ferrell affords Steele much greater protection than a lot of people would otherwise get (something the film does acknowledge and attempt to break away from), while some may question whether certain situations have been staged or manipulated for dramatic or comedic momentum.

But the film does attempt to address some of the criticisms that are likely to be levelled against it, while preferring to err on the side of hope throughout - even when set against the context of scenes that highlight social ignorance, such as a trawl through social media posts that aim so much vitriol towards Steele, in particular. 

Hence, as its core, Will & Harper exists as both a celebration of friendship and an awareness-raising rallying call for understanding and acceptance. It's a triumph - albeit a bittersweet one; a film that reminds us of the darker, more intolerant side of humanity, while celebrating the positivity that can come from cultivating a culture of inclusion and love without judgement.

Taken on those terms, it's a film that also deserves to find the widest audience possible.

Click here for another informed review (The Guardian).