Three Identical Strangers: everything about this shocking Netflix docu
When people hear that you are a twin, the same question often comes up: what is it like to be a twin? I can tell you, it is a special bond and I really can't imagine what it would have been like to grow up without her. Yet that is exactly what the brothers experienced in the Netflix docu ‘Three Identical Strangers’: for nineteen years they did not know of each other's existence. But their special reunion is soon overshadowed by the true reason for their separation.
Three Identical Strangers: the incredible meeting
When Bobby Shafran arrives on the campus of his community college in New York in 1980, he is enthusiastically greeted by various classmates. They all seem to know him, but Bobby has no idea who they are. Even stranger: they all address him as Eddy. Not long after, Bobby discovers why. He meets Eddy Galland and it is immediately clear that they indeed look strikingly alike. When it also turns out that they are both adopted, the conclusion is quickly drawn: they must really be twin brothers This discovery turns out to be just the beginning. The story of the brothers appears in the newspaper and thus also reaches David Kellman. He sees the photo of Bobby and Eddy and realizes that he also looks a lot like them. He contacts them and tells them that he too was adopted as a baby. At the age of 19, the boys discover that they are identical triplets who grew up without each other all those years.
The media circus surrounding the Three Identical Strangers
After their meeting, the brothers quickly form a bond. They discover that their appearance was not their only similarity. They smoked the same brand of cigarettes and were also attracted to the same type of women. When the three are guests on the Phil Donahue Show, they completely win over the audience. The brothers finish each other's sentences and make the same body movements at the same time. The media were completely crazy about this extraordinary story. The circus surrounding Bobby, Eddy, and David goes even further when the brothers decide to live together and also start a restaurant in New York. The restaurant gets the fitting name Triplets and becomes a great success. But the better the brothers get to know each other, the more the question arises as to why they were ever separated. And that reason turns out to be much more intense than expected.
The secret behind the separation of the triplets
The brothers discover that they were separated shortly after their birth by Louise Wise Services, an adoption agency in New York City. The agency did not inform the different adoptive parents that there were a total of three boys who would now grow up without each other. The separation turned out to be part of a scientific experiment by psychoanalyst Peter Neubauer. He wanted to find out through the brothers, and several other children, whether behavior is more determined by your genes or by your upbringing. While the brothers try to uncover the truth, they also struggle with the loss of their childhood and the idea of how their lives could have been.
From documentary to source of inspiration
After its release in 2018, the documentary immediately became a great success. For a moment, it seemed that a fictional film about the brothers would be made, although that was quickly adjusted to a series. But unfortunately, the series never came to fruition. After actor Ben Stiller was mentioned in 2023 as a potential lead actor, there was silence regarding the developments. Nevertheless, it seems that the story of the brothers has inspired other creators; the Netflix series ‘Triptych’ seems to resemble it quite a bit. In this thriller, forensic agent Rebecca also discovers that she is part of a triplet. The creators have never admitted what true events the series is based on, but we can fill that in ourselves, right?
‘Three Identical Strangers’ returns to Netflix
After a temporary absence, the documentary is now making its comeback on Netflix. With a Rotten Tomatoes score of 96 percent, it is clear that the story still resonates with many people. Thanks to interviews and reenacted scenes, viewers really get a glimpse into the lives of the brothers and are taken along in their search for the truth. And with all those revelations, viewers want to know more and more: how could this ever happen?
Just a little more patience and then we can fully immerse ourselves in this bizarre story: ‘Three Identical Strangers’ will be available on Netflix from May 18.
Source: Dalton Distr. Image| Three identical strangers
