THREE IDENTICAL STRANGERS

Director: Tim Wardle

96, PG-13

Cast: Bobby Shafran, Eddy Galland, David Kellman, Lawrence Wright, Dr. Peter Neubauer.

Discussion with Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience Molly Helt, following Thursday night’s show.

 

While 2018 has been a bumper year for awesome documentaries, only Three Identical Strangers has a narrative that is nearly impossible to believe is not fiction. Identical triplet boys, separated at birth for reasons both nefarious and scientific, are accidentally reunited at age 19. Bobby, David and Eddy, raised in very different (working class, middle class and wealthy) environments, become darlings of the 1970s New York media, appearing on talk shows and as stars at Studio 54. Tim Wardle’s film follows up after the triplets’ 15 minutes of fame passed them by, uncovering a more complicated story of deception and unhappiness. A story, it turns out, that was orchestrated by unscrupulous people who were willing to manipulate lives in the name of scientific inquiry.
“Illuminating…we come away with a deeper understanding of both the importance of nature and the awesome importance of loving, sensitive parenting.” – Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle.