Three Identical Strangers

Many of you will be familiar with Willy Russell’s musical Blood Brothers. With a storyline centred on twins separated at birth, it became the third longest running musical in West End history. Theatregoers returned again and again, drawn to the nature vs nurture debate that propels the story. Having the brothers adopted into different families: one from the inner-city, one from the suburbs, we see how upbringing affects opportunity. Conversely, we see within both an innate charm, along with a hot-headedness that has huge ramifications late on. Lionel Shriver’s book We Need To Talk About Kevin deals with a similar topic, questioning whether a mother should be held responsible for her son’s destructive behaviour. Was he born bad? Or did his environment make him so? Nature vs nurture has fascinated artists and observers for years. Many find the notion of nature's supremacy frightening, suggesting as it does how our lives are predetermined, resting in the hands of genetic Gods; powerless to its might, wherever we turn we return to the same place, constricted through chromosome, contained in code. Nature denies the idea that love and industry can alter essence, making someone happier and healthier. If nature is all, then there’s no need for psychology or counselling: you can’t escape who you are so why bother.

From different side of the tracks: Blood Brothers.

Three Identical Strangers is a staggering documentary from Channel 4. Directed by Tim Wardle, the remarkable story begins in an unremarkable setting: Sullivan Country Community College. A nineteen year old arrives for his first day in a new place. Rarely popular, often reserved, he’s a little nervous about the whole thing. As soon as he’s in the block though, something strange happens. He’s greeted by all and sundry. Backslapped and kissed like there’s no tomorrow. “It’s great to have you back.” “ I thought you’d left.” “Catch you later, Eddie.” 

There's just one problem.

His name is not Eddie – it’s Bobby. 

Why are people calling him the wrong name? Why do they think they’ve seen him before? Why is he being greeted like a returning captain when he’s making his debut? Finally a student comprehends the confusion and asks him if he’s a twin. Bobby was adopted and has an older sister, but doesn’t have a twin. The student, Michael, thinks differently. He grabs Bobby and races him down to the callbox, loading the receiver with quarters to confirm his hunch. The voice that Bobby hears on the other line is his. The tone, intonation, idiosyncrasies all his own. However, this is no echo; this is another voice. The voice on the other line is Eddie – Bobby’s brother.

The twins enlist another member.

Soon Bobby and Eddie are re-united. They discover that the were both adopted into different families, not many miles apart. It isn’t long before the press hear the sound of headlines and descend on them. With that, the two men are catapulted into the newspapers. A feel-good story of long-lost newly-found. Every breakfast table reads the story, smiling into its coffee. One kitchen sees something familiar and alerts David Kellman, a student at Queen’s College. He looks into the photo and sees a mirror. He is the spit of Bobby Shafran and Eddie Galland. He has turned a duo into a trio, twins to triplets.

With the three men now together, the story gets bigger. They are on every chat show in America, being interviewed by everyone in the land. Desperate to make up for lost time, they move into a New York bachelor pad, creating a whole heap of pizza boxes and mischief along the way. With their brand rising, they set up a restaurant where people come from miles wide to meet and eat with them. In the first year the take home is $1 million – not bad for a family business.

At the height of their fame, the three boys had a cameo in Madonna's Desperately Seeking Susan. (She's the one on the left.)

Whilst they enjoy themselves, their families are less pleased. They are angry that the boys grew up apart. None of the parents kept the brothers from each other: they had no idea their adopted boys were one of three. Isn’t it also strange that their children had such different lives? David was born into a loving blue-collar neighbourhood, his dad an avuncular shopkeeper; Eddie’s family is middle-class, his father a strict teacher; Bobby's a prominent upscale family, his dad an out-of-town physician, his mum a solicitor. All three brothers, identical in birth, are from separate worlds. 

The parents go to the adoption agency looking for answers and are met by evasion and misdirection. It isn’t until a journalist happens upon a find that an extraordinary history emerges. What starts off being a fun feature piece becomes an expose on corrupt institutions. A film that begins about identical appearances turns into a deeper examination of research ethics and genetic determinism. The film is unbelievable. Prepare to have your breath taken away.

Three Identical Strangers is available on All 4