Film Review: Three Identical Strangers

I’m a sucker for films with bizarre third-act turns. As such, True/False Film Festival in Columbia, Missouri is like my drug dealer. The documentary-focused film festival features at least one film a year with such a weird twist I can’t help but be glued to the screen.

These sorts of films are also a particular challenge to review. A reviewer can only talk about so much without spoiling the entire thing.

This year, that film was Three Identical Strangers. The film concerns Eddy Galland, David Kellman and Bobby Shafran, the titular triplets. Identical triplets separated at birth, they find each other 19 years later by complete happenstance. The unique nature of their situation leads to national TV appearances, a restaurant and even a cameo in a Madonna film.

The film begins on a happy note, filled with the joy inherent in family reconnecting after such a long time. But as the questions begin to pile up the film takes on a darker and darker tone. I left the theater honestly disgusted in what humanity is capable of, especially after those responsible show no remorse whatsoever.

There’s very little narration in the film, leaving the story to be told by the people who lived it. It’s a wise decision. Strangers is a story so unbelievable it has to be right in front of you for it to sink in.

My one problem with the film is how sudden the third-act turn feels. There’s no inkling of broader questions in the first half of the film. The beginning of the third act then brings up these questions and dumps quite a bit of information at the viewer.

The structural editing of the film could’ve better set up the third act. It would have allowed more eagle-eyed viewers to catch on to the third act earlier and allowed other viewers to make those connections more easily.

Strangers isn’t impossible to follow, though, and it is well worth the journey.