Will & Harper is a 2024 American documentary film directed by Josh Greenbaum (which can be viewed in Netflix).
It chronicles a 17-day road trip across the USA taken by the duo Will Ferrell and Harper Steele. The film centers on Harper Steele's (formerly known as Andrew Steele) decision to transition and become a trans woman. Will Ferrell has been a long-time friend of Andrew, having worked together during Andrew's time as a writer on Saturday Night Live, while Ferrell was a performer on the show.
After Harper sent an email to a close circle of friends coming out as a trans woman, Ferrell suggested they embark on a road trip across the country to reconnect and explore their friendship and relationship anew.
A legitimate preliminary question is: why is this considered a gerontological film? Formally speaking, Harper is in her 60s, so she certainly "qualifies." More importantly, throughout the documentary, both Will and Harper frequently reference their "old age" and acknowledge that they are "old."
As gerontology evolves from viewing older individuals as a homogeneous group to recognizing a more diverse and intersectional social fabric, this film stands out as an important contribution. It highlights yet another marginalized social group: older transgender individuals who choose to transition later in life.
The beauty and significance of this film lie in the genuine friendship between Will and Harper, which enables them to engage in intimate and candid conversations about the experience of becoming a trans woman in their later years. This documentary has the potential to spark important discussions in a relatively under-explored field of gerontology.
2024
USA
Director: Josh Greenbaum