Page 9 - Palm City Spotlight - November '24

Palm City Spotlight, Page 9

film review

Will & Harper yourself. Instead, in this column I will simply explain finally got divorced
what awaits you if that Sundance standing ovation and and transitioned to
By Nils A. Shapiro my own wholehearted recommendation are enough to the woman he always
You can bet your house that this film will be nominated convince you that it deserves your attention. felt he should be,
for Best Documentary at the next Academy Awards. As The “Will” in this film’s title is Will Ferrell, one of including undergoing
The New York Times reviewer noted, it “brought the house today’s most popular stars of comedy movies who rose to the accompanying
down” at the 40th Sundance Film Festival last January fame on the Saturday Night Live TV show. From the very surgery, and wanted
with a standing ovation from the audience as the end beginning his persona has been that of a nice, big, easy- to know if Will would
credits rolled. going guy who never minds playing a “goofy” character meet with her.
I can understand why. if called on to do so. After years of success on that show T h e r e su l t o f
Rarely does a film combine so genuine a combination he switched to Hollywood and has starred in a number of that meeting, as one
of friendship, heart and humor that—for most viewers—it successful films. way to help Harper
would be difficult not to be affected by it. While at SNL, among his friends was one of the find her way back
And yet, considering its subject matter and the present comedy sketch writers, a 61-year-old married man. So it into the world, was
thinking of a segment of our nation’s population, my was a significant surprise to Will more than a year ago their decision to
statement may be going a step too far. Since Will & Harper when he received a call from that friend, Harper Steele, drive cross-country
just premiered in September on Netflix after a limited explaining that—now a she—had, after more than 40 years together and to film that experience as a documentary.
theatrical release, I leave it to you to judge its impact for of emotional and psychological confusion and suffering, How would Harper now view the world as a woman? And
how would the world view Harper…as a woman?
It turns out to be quite a ride: a 17-day road trip starting
in New York City, with stops in Washington D.C….Beech
Grove, Indiana…Peoria, Illinois…Meeker, Oklahoma…
Amarillo, Texas…Las Vegas, Nevada…on to Los Angeles.
Just before they start out¸ Will and Harper meet for
breakfast at a Diner with Harper’s two teenage daughters.
It soon becomes clear that, while their father’s radical
change came as a shock to the two girls it did not diminish
their love for him, a reflection of their feelings and
understanding that affects us in the film’s audience as
much as it does Will Ferrell.
While much of the humor takes place during the on-the-
road driving scenes, and there are a great many laughs as you
would expect from Will Ferrell and a comedy sketch writer,
some of the film’s most poignant, dramatic—and also the
less than pleasant—moments take place during their brief
stopovers in typical American small towns and cities.
It is important to point out that this film does not set out
to preach to its audience. Many will likely come away with
the same fixed opinion on its subject they previously had.
But there is no way one can watch this film without being
better informed, and with a more visceral understanding
of what it means to live the transgender experience.
For example, at a Diner along the way the waitress
takes Will’s order then turns to Harper and asks,
“And what will you have, Sir?,” then apologizes with
embarrassment when Will interrupts her by ordering for
his “lady friend.”
But it is when the two arrive in a small beach town
on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, where Harper shows
Will a house he had secretly purchased years earlier
in anticipation of this time in his life—and the deeply
emotional reason why—that the heart of the film grips
us once again.
Then, when Will reaches into his pocket for a gift he
has been saving for the right moment and hands it to
Harper, we recognize its symbolic perfection and cannot
help but realize that everyone should have a friend like
Will Ferrell.
That kind of friendship alone deserved the standing
ovation at Sundance.

See answer in this paper.