Touching as a human interest story, as well as a fascinating case study in the age-old nature vs. nurture argument, at least in theory. What the lead scientist, Peter Neubauer, and the Louise Wise adoption agency did to these people and the unknown others who were part of their study was horrifying. The film starts off strong as it tells the truly improbable tale of these guys finding each other, and how their lives changed in an instant. Unfortunately, even as I wondered why Phil Donahue and others from the talk shows in 1980 didn't ask insightful questions, gradually I realized the documentary itself was often lacking the same way. Worse yet, it handles the heartbreaking suicide of one of the triplets poorly, wringing every bit of emotion out of it almost like a tabloid, and then makes an enormous leap in attributing it to parental upbringing. Without a doubt it's a factor, but it's far more complicated than that, but the documentary doesn't bother to have experts comment. Still interesting though, and hard to fathom this actually having happened.
Review of Three Identical Strangers
