The 2018 documentary tells the story of triplets David, Bobby and Eddy. Raised in separate families for the first 18 years of their lives, they found out they were related in 1980 at the age of 19. This heartwarming story about family, swept the nation. David, Bobby and Eddy became an overnight media sensation appearing in magazines and going on talk shows. The brothers recount their meteoric rise to fame, which included and ended with running their own New York restaurant, unsurprisingly named “Triplets”. Roughly an hour into the documentary, the twins are revealed to have been separated on purpose, in the name of a research study.
The study, ran by the New York based Jewish Board of Guardians ran from 1960–1980, the brothers surmising that their reunion put an end to the study. The outcome of the study is unknown and remans so to this day. Peter Neubauer, the scientist in charge of the research project, sealed the documents away at Yale University prior to his death, which will remain sealed until 2066. It is likely that the subjects of the study, will go to their graves never knowing the reason behind their separation.
Every aspect of the triplet’s childhoods was monitored and planned. The parents were picked out based on several factors, their occupations, their parenting style and their income. Each family already had an adopted daughter, coming from the same adoption agency (Louise Wise Services) as the triplets. This meant the researchers could monitor their parenting style. Each triplet was sent to a low income family, a middle class family and an affluent family, respectively. This meant each triplet had a drastically different upbringing.
Eddy was given to a low income family with a militaristic father who enforced strict rules to follow. David was given to a middle class immigrant family that was full of love and warmth. Bobby was given to a affluent family, a respected doctor for a father and an accountant for a mother. They both had busy professional lives but were always there for Bobby and his sister.
Upon their first meeting and the subsequent media storm that followed, the triplets and the public noticed their similarities: they liked the same food (Chinese) they had the same taste in women (older) and they smoked the same cigarettes (Marlboro), but deep down they were fundamentally very different people. Having been kept apart until they reached adulthood, they hadn't had the time to bicker and argue as siblings do. They didn't know each others boundaries. This unsurprisingly caused friction between the siblings, but it was Eddie, coming from a cold and “quiet family” who sought to bring the siblings together and tried his damnedest to make sure they all got along. After a breakdown in the trio’s relationship, which saw Bobby leave the restaurant, Eddie had a breakdown and was diagnosed with manic depression. David made the hard decision to put Eddy in a mental institution in early 1995. Three weeks later, Eddy returned to work at their restaurant. This return to normalcy was short lived however as tragically, Eddy committed suicide shortly after. He was 33.
Having lost their brother, Bobby and David stopped talking. Bobby reflects on his brothers loss, “ Why Eddy? Why not me? I’ve asked that myself a hundred times”. David is adamant that the reason he is still living today is down to the warmth and open relationship he had with his parents, “ I believe that absolutely made the difference with whatever demons I’ve struggled with”.
The documentary tells a powerful tale of family and belonging. Siblings, regardless of the importance of any research study, should be kept together. They should learn to argue, laugh, cry and live together. The idea that the results of the study will be locked away for another 42 years is appalling. The subjects of the study will never know why they each had drastically different childhoods. If they had been given normal childhoods, shared childhoods, then maybe Eddy would still be alive.
Three Identical Strangers is available to watch on Netflix.
