Review of Three Identical Strangers (2018) by Dufreshest — 08 Jul 2018

Usually, any film on the basis of a true story tends to flow as its own cinematic development with embeddings of aspects of a true story— the true story— attempting to replicate a reality— in an appealing sense—which is difficult to actually attain again due to the progression of time from the actual events. Yet, Three Identical Strangers flips the script. The progression of the film as a cinematographic development deeply roots viewers into a position which forces viewers to acknowledge the depths of the situations before them without being able to turn away.

Three Identical Strangers divulges truths of being and charades. Differentiating between the three brothers, the three identical strangers, externally seems already difficult alone: now, imagine doing so during their propulsion into the spotlight and then attempting to identify them as individuals of their own interior from their exteriority. The title, Three Identical Strangers, is very suitable because so much does not come from the interior to reveal anything beyond their developing circumstances in the film: there is so much focus on the exteriority of these three identical siblings that finds disruption even beginning to near the interiority-- in particular, with one of the brothers. One of the most interesting developmental scenes of the documentary concerns the lack of access even the brothers have attempting to approach their brother Eddy’s house after an incident. Through to the end of the documentary, the archival—the secure interior—is inaccessible, at least seemingly so, until the owners of the archival open up and allow access.

The conversation of public and private—exterior and interior-- is very prevalent and important to understanding from general broad perspectives to very specific perspectives. The first time of my earnest consideration, contemplation, and engagement of the conversation concerning the public and private occurs when one of my college professors assigns Jane Austen’s Persuasion. Initially, I come upon Jane Austen because the mother of a child I babysit is an interior decorator and has a very interesting library in her home inclusive of the entire Jane Austen collection. Jane Austen does an amazing job exploring the exteriority and interiority of societal members in public and private spaces (at least, in the texts I’ve read from her). Perceptions of societal expectations concerning the ideas of icons and positions in society affect societies and individuals of societies in myriad ways which may not even seem so apparent to them immediately though in hindsight is very apparent: as is shown in Three Identical Strangers, some struggle finding their way to even get to the point to deal with aspects of their hindsight.

What is binding anyone? What prevents one from even feeling capable of being free? Processes of life come in a variety of paces which everyone must make sure to navigate accordingly and appropriately to better their way forward. Yet, I find many people succumb to their beliefs concerning societal pressures and societal standards that prevent them from experiencing life according to their own experimental processes of discovery and figuring-- which may inhibit them from fulfilling their potentials. There are individuals that are well aware of varying circumstances in life and prepare their selves so as to live in the broader sense of the world according to their understandings in reasonable-sensible manners.

Three Identical Strangers discusses the topic of nature vs. nurture in relation to the circumstances of each brothers development within different foster homes which hinges heavily on matters of public and private spaces. As I do not know the private experiences of these triplets (and barely the public), a question comes to mind concerning the nurturing happening between the three of them through their adulthood and through their re-separation: how are they nurturing each other and their selves alone? Their behavior during childhood in separation concerning their methods of falling asleep makes one wonder of the separation anxiety Eddy might have been going through on his own. After watching Three Identical Strangers, I come to recognize (even more so) the importance of asking questions, seeking help, self-nurturing in one’s own spaces at one’s own paces, and moving away from one’s own beliefs concerning societal expectations and societal standards as well as societal expectations and societal standards apart from one’s beliefs. There are times one may be in the pictures—and, there are times one must simply observe the pictures. Three Identical Strangers is a great documentary which brings to light topics that really are affecting societies today: along the same lines, I think mental health is important—but, I think mental development is far more important.

-K.D.

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