Three Identical Strangers, released in 2018 and directed by Tim Wardle, tells the intriguing and emotive narrative of three adopted triplets who were separated at birth and reunited as adults. Bobby Shafran, Eddy Galland, and David Kellman live their whole lives until they are nineteen years old, believing that they are only children. It all starts on Bobby’s first day at Sullivan County Community College, when people greet him warmly, saying “Hi Eddy!” and “I’m so glad you’re back!” Confused, Bobby denies any connection to this mysterious Eddy. However, when someone from his college acknowledges that Bobby might just be Eddy’s long-lost twin, the story unfolds shockingly. When Eddy and Bobby reunite, journalists seize the opportunity to write a newspaper article detailing their fascinating story. Later, David, the last triplet, spots their picture in the newspaper and realizes he might be the third.
Once the three reunite, they admit to feeling as though they’ve known each other their whole lives; there was no formal introduction – they just clicked instantaneously. The media became infatuated with them, and they quickly became minor media sensations, appearing prominently on talk shows, such as The Phil Donahue Show, and in various interviews. In one talk show, they claimed that their looks were not their only similarity; their traits and mannerisms were also alike. They all wrestled throughout high school, shared the same taste in women, smoked the same brand of cigarettes, and had the same tastes in food. Halfway through the documentary, everything appears to be going well, but soon enough, a central conflict emerges: Why were the triplets separated at birth, and are just now discovering each other? After thorough investigations, the three triplets figure out that they were intentionally separated and placed into different socioeconomic households as part of a psychological nature vs. nurture experiment led by psychiatrist Dr. Neubauer and his team. Each of the triplets recalls vague childhood memories of researchers visiting their houses, testing on them, observing them, and taking notes. They become furious upon discovering that their childhood was stripped away from them, feeling as though they were treated like lab rats. However, when the triplets confronted the Louise Wise Services Agency to view their study records regarding the experiment, they were denied access due to legal reasons and told that the records would be sealed until 2065.
Later, the film confronts the tragic consequences of the experiment: the mental health struggles, family trauma, and ultimately Eddy’s suicide. As adults, all three brothers struggled with mental health issues, and Eddy, in particular, struggled with manic depressive disorder. It is implied that the experiment and the deception, along with his family issues, played a significant role in his mental health decline. Being separated from his brothers as a child and later discovering the truth likely deepened feelings of betrayal and confusion about his identity. Eddy’s suicide portrays the danger of giving people the power to conduct an experiment that could permanently harm another person, highlighting the psychological injustices that can occur through unethical research and testing. The documentary leaves the audience with an impactful message – we truly never know what someone else is battling. We should always be empathetic toward everyone, especially in times when suicide rates are increasing.
