Arts·Commotion

In the heartfelt road trip doc Will & Harper, coming out is just the beginning

Culture critics Niko Stratis and Mel Woods join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to share their thoughts on the film.

The Netflix documentary follows comedian Will Ferrell and former SNL head writer Harper Steele on a road trip

An older white man with curly hair and white woman wearing red rimmed glasses, pictured during a TIFF red carpet event
Will Ferrell and Harper Steele walk the TIFF red carpet for the film Will & Harper on Sept. 11, 2024. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

The new Netflix documentary Will & Harper was one of the buzziest films out of TIFF 2024. It follows comedian Will Ferrell and former SNL head writer Harper Steele as they embark on a literal and metaphorical journey through their 30-year friendship.

When Ferrell finds out Steele is coming out as a trans woman, the two decide to take a road trip across America as they process this new stage of their relationship.

Today on Commotion,  critics Niko Stratis and Mel Woods join host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about how the film takes on challenging conversations around transness and allyship with humour and heart.

WATCH | Today's episode on YouTube: 

You can listen to the full discussion from today's show on CBC Listen or on our podcast, Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud, available wherever you get your podcasts.


Panel produced by Jane van Koeverden.