Imagine turning the corner and seeing yourself there. That’s exactly what happened to Bobby Shafran, Eddy Galland and David Kellman, three identical triplets who were separated at birth and didn’t reconnect until almost 20 years later.
The documentary “Three Identical Strangers,” directed by Tim Wardle, is somewhat unconventional in its approach. It begins with a John Hughes inspired comical tone that introduces this bizarre premise. Two young men who have existed autonomously in New York City are connected through a chance encounter with a college friend when they discover they’re twins. Through a widely circulated article in the New York Post, they discover that they have a third brother. During this time, the brothers saw a great deal of popularity and fascination from the American public, as they were certainly more charismatic than most rock stars of the 80s.
In a flawless transplant of narrative arc and structure to the documentary format, “Three Identical Strangers” details an account of dramatic events that changed the lives of three brothers and their families. It takes the emotional journey of discovery and adventure through a horrifying real-life kaleidoscope of paranoia, mystery and intrigue. One might even be so bold to claim that this movie deservingly claims the title of
The pacing and editing of the documentary play a unique role in bringing about an interesting element in the film, which is a strong understanding of genre convention. With its quasi political thriller/noir composition, it manages to do what every good detective story does: place the audience directly into the story and allows them to solve the mystery themselves.
It ultimately does more than provide thrills and genuine laughter, at its core it has a poignant emotional pull and even poses some philosophical quandaries. In a time when the world seems to fall from one extreme to the other, what do we as a society value? Can we still believe in family? Is there such a thing as freewill? Are our destinies predetermined or do we have a say so?
With its unapologetic display of ethos, a chemistry for grabbing attention and a cast of unbelievable characters, “Three Identical Strangers” makes a compelling argument for why reality is much stranger than fiction will ever be.
