The documentary Three Identical Strangers tells a truly unbelievable story! Three brothers, separated at birth, meet by chance years later! This documentary really delves into the details, taking audiences through their amazing journey! But there is a very dark secret behind this compelling story. What follows after the brothers meet will be something truly gripping.
The Story of Three Identical Strangers
Directed by Tim Wardle, the 2018 documentary follows the lives of identical triplets: Edward Galland, David Kellman, and Robert Shafran. These brothers were separated at infancy and only came back together thanks to coincidence! They began to unravel the truth of a sociological experiment. A study that looks at how similar they were to one another despite different family upbringings. Their story takes a difficult, surprising and troubling turn as their past is shown.
Where Are The Triplets Now?
The documentary follows what happened years after their remarkable reunion, which becomes incredibly disturbing. Their lives changed forever and this had lasting effects! Let's look at what happened after the cameras were turned off.
Robert Shafran's Life
Robert Shafran, placed in an upper-middle-class family, had a rather comfortable life. His story is one that set things off, helping to bring the triplets together! What's surprising, he started college at Sullivan County Community College which just happened to be the very same school that Edward Galland was already attending the previous year! Imagine that.
After a remarkable moment on campus. Robert Shafran realized that this person looking exactly like him was actually his brother! It started a journey where they found each other! They came to find David Kellman and made their unique and memorable trio. The three share a fascinating bond that you just might not be able to resist, the discovery leads them to embrace similar hobbies and habits which added a new chapter.
The spotlight did end eventually for this trio, but Robert enjoys some peaceful time and returned back to living quietly. Robert is now living in Brooklyn and is married! With two children. His family enjoys some peace and he practices law. However, he has stopped working after a motorcycle accident in 2011. The amazing documentry about the trio created more recognition for their story which means Robert, along with his brother David, may explore new commercial opportunties together.
David Kellman's Story
What stands out about David Kellman's life was the socioeconomic difference between them. Even though he was raised in a blue-collar setting and he found his family it wasn't only a story about similar upbringings!
His journey was a little different as he managed to come in as the third triplet and make the famous trio. What makes it so memorable is the restaurant that he eventually worked at together with Robert and Edward.
After closing the restaurant, he repaired some issues in his relationship with Robert and still does activities like going out and playing golf! David now has two children and holds a position at an insurance firm! Currently residing in New Jersey, he and Robert have new opportunities ahead as a movie called Three Identical Strangers. The movie might use their real-world life events!
The Tragedy of Edward Galland
While the first parts of the documentary feel like an incredible stroke of luck and pure chance. Three Identical Strangers reveals an even darker reason for this meeting and what made this tale so fascinating! The story gets intense and truly tragic! This revelation was a seismic and earth-shattering moment for Edward!
When they learned of the Louise Wise Adoption Agency, they were stunned by their discovery!
- The triplets learned they were part of a major experiment
- Conducted by doctors Peter B. Neubauer and Viola W. Bernard
- Overseen by the Jewish Board of Guardians
It becomes clear what kind of impact this study had on these siblings lives. The triplets and their parents were never told.
The study was designed to separate groups of children with the purpose of seeing what happens to different people in different economic and social settings. It goes deeper and the idea is to watch this effect, to analyze their entire lives. This never made it to be okay and it caused a great deal of upset for everyone when it finally got released into the public eye!
While many viewers can see that many participants experienced lasting emotional pain! This truly did make an impact and ultimately was incredibly cruel!
The main victim was Edward who experienced such a great and shocking revelation, at a time when therapy may not have been as available. He suffered greatly after being reunited and passed at a tragically young age, just 33! It was such an unforgettable, life changing event, but we have a sense he experienced some resolution, but it appears the event was quite devastating! His past really changed his entire life, making this part of the documentry extremely tough to watch.
The Unsolved Mystery Of The Study
This experiment raises major questions. And still feels like a disturbing reminder of the ethical boundaries science really should have!
It looks like the information may continue to stay out of the public's eyes for a while longer! Although Three Identical Strangers created a lot of buzz. Many readers were equally compelled to dive into another book by Elyse Schein and Paula Bernstein that covers parts of this research.
One thing that is quite amazing is the Yale University Library and that documents were stored away and under seal until October 2065!
You see, this experiment took many, many years. It lasted over decades and there's information from Peter Bela Neubauer and even from the Jewish Board of Guardians showing an incredibly extensive look into what occurred!
What was interesting, is that researchers really were asking about the impact of various parental behavior and what influenced individuals from childhood.
There really wasn't enough information. While it did reveal a terrible lack of ethical considerations when researchers look at social experimentation. We can now look back on the real effects and how much the psychological distress made a life altering impact.
This is something that should always be brought to the forefront and is a critical element when documenting social science.
Three Identical Strangers, for anyone that hasn't gotten a chance to watch, will truly give you chills and really showcase that these kinds of stories about family can leave some very lasting impressions on all of us.
