I just watched Will & Harper on Netflix. Spoilers ahead. Do not read on if you want to avoid them. It was … Beautiful. Funny. Heartwarming. Heartbreaking. All of that, and more. So much has been said, probably better than I ever could, about this documentary.
I’m going to say a bit nevertheless. Oh come on, you knew I would. This film documents Will Farrell and his good friend Harper Steele deciding to take a road trip. The trip was motivated, at least in part, by Will’s desire to reconnect with Harper after she announced to her various celebrity friends that she was transgender, and had begun living as a woman.
Harper was, in her previous life, a writer, and ultimately the head writer, for Saturday Night Live (SNL). She started writing for the show before Will joined SNL. They clicked, and she wrote many of the skits for him on that show. Over the years working together, they became fast friends.
This documentary shows us their trip across the country, but more importantly, the journey that Will makes to full acceptance of Harper as she now is, and a fuller understanding of what life was like for her before transition. She gives the viewer glimpses of the pain she felt as a late transitioning transgender woman who spent most of her life in the closet.
The audience sees very raw imagery of what it’s like to be an older trans woman in the United States. As they traverse the heartland while traveling by car from New York to California, you see people, good and bad, and how they react to Harper.
One of the more poignant episodes revolves around a visit to a steak restaurant in Texas. Will decides to take on their 72 ounce steak challenge. The $72 dollar steak meal is free, if you can eat it in one hour. Of course, there’s a lot of attention on Will, and consequently his table-mate Harper, because of this.
I honestly don’t know if Will succeeded at the challenge, or if they even said. That’s not what this was about. The next day, as they are driving on from Amarillo, we see Harper and Will reacting to the hateful commentary online as a result of this stunt.
It’s in this moment that Will begins to truly comprehend what life is like for the average trans woman in the US. Harper had agreed to undertake the road trip in part to see if she could fit in in the various places she would frequent in her younger days as a long haul trucker. This was a truly powerful moment.
As the trip continues, we see Will begin to truly feel the pain of his lifelong friend. Throughout the trip, there are many funny moments. They were a part of SNL together, after all. Many of the stereotypical questions are asked, and answered. Harper told Will her friends were welcome to ask her anything, including the traditionally taboo subjects that you should never ask a trans person.
This is but a few quick highlights of the story told so well by this documentary. I would encourage you to watch it, if you have the chance, and care about transgender people. Warning, you may cry at a few points. I know I did.
Their journey ends at the Pacific Ocean, as Harper announces that she has to drive back since they were in her car. Will asks to come along for the return trip, and they begin to make plans, including taking a different route back to New York.
Their journey came to an end. My journey continues. So many of you have been loving and accepting, and I invite you to join me, as I continue on, if you will.
An Aging Trans Woman 
I saw them on Fallon or Kimmel the other night talking about the documentary and I wrote it in my journal so I wouldn’t forget to watch it. I truly believe that educating ourselves is a big key to understanding, but, more importantly – feeling empathy and truly trying to understand from another point of view is so important. I’m really looking forward to watching.
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You will love it. But you might want to have some tissues handy for a few parts.
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Indeed, I figured that already, but you solidified it. 🙂
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It sounds like I’ll have to watch…
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I loved it. 🫂
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I need to start streaming, I guess. I have no streaming subscriptions as yet, but I’m moving that way. This movie is what’s really impelling me there. This is Netflix, I think I saw.
Heh; we used to rent DVD movies from Netflix! I will work my way to getting to this. I don’t mind watching; I had a good friend when I was young, and one night Tom Snyder had Christine Jorgensen on for an interview about a year after my friend told me she wasn’t really he (we stayed friends, and I’m so glad, because I was young and said some stupid stuff about studying hard, graduating Oxford, and buying IBM before transitioning, but she laughed. As it should be. We have lost track of each other by now.) That was in 1979, but the two of them taught me some things. I’m still learning, though!
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Thank you Ali. You are a good person, a good friend, and a wonderful ally.
Yes, it’s on Netflix. It also apparently had a limited theater run. I didn’t hear about that until a friend on FB told me he had seen it in a theater.
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I thought it was only on streaming, also. It wasn’t on screen around here, but the theaters are still struggling from the pandemic, so. I’m happy to read about it, before I get to watch it!
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Hi Janet. Yes I will join you on your journey supporting you to the best I am able. You have already shown such strength and grace that I find amazing. Best wishes always. Hugs. Scottie
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Thank you Scottie. You’ve already been very supportive, and I do appreciate it. Hugs.
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