Twinsters (2015)
 (filmed in 2013)

This movie was a happy surprise. Documentaries can be one-sided, dull and repetitive.  This film had none of these qualities.  I found this movie charming, entertaining and warm. Judging by the closing credits, this movie was funded via Kickstarter.  While this movie is as engaging as a “home movie”, it feels professionally filmed, edited, directed and produced.  The inclusion of  pop-up messages and emoji felt natural. The word “pop” even became a code word encompassing joy, friendship, love and caring.

I found this movie in the streaming library.  I did not read any reviews; the title and the friendly look of the poster attracted my attention.  The two individuals of the title are Samantha Futerman (USA) and Anaïs Bordier  (France).  Both were adopted out of South Korea, but neither adoptive family was notified that either baby had a twin.  A friend of Anaïs discovered a video made by Samantha posted on YouTube.  From that point it was literally only a few keystrokes before the girls discovered one another and met (first via Skype, later in person).

Although this is a documentary, the following paragraphs could be considered as SPOILERS.

Samantha grew up with two brothers, while Anaïs grew up an only child.  While they are obviously very similar in spite of the adoptive differences, Anaïs is the more inward of the two.  Anaïs spoke about feeling unaccepted by others (this did not apply to her feelings about her adoptive parents) as a child. 

The trip to South Korea for Samantha and Anaïs was made to participate in the South Korean Adoptees Convention, but also to reconnect with their foster mothers and adoption center.  Unfortunately the birth mother was not ready for contact or even willing to admit she had given birth to them.  However, I believe this trip helped Anaïs come to terms with her feelings of being unworthy and abandoned.  What amazed me were all the South Koreans who were so accepting of these adoptees, thanking them for visiting their “mother” country.  I had always thought that adoptees were not well thought of by their “mother” country.

During visits to one another’s home and South Korean turned these two women (25 years old in 2013) turned into little girls that giggled, held hands and even slept in the same bed. It almost felt like they were fast-forwarding through the childhood that neither was able to share with the other.  My impression is that this process healed Anaïs.  Although there is not follow-up at the conclusion of the movie to indicate whether these two women are still as close.  I would like to thank their feelings and situation remains close.

This documentary is a well-made and enjoyable showcase of acceptance and love that we should all share.

Abbreviated Netflix Posted Review (due to 2000 character limit):

This movie was a happy surprise. Documentaries can be one-sided, dull and repetitive. This film had none of these qualities. I found this movie charming, entertaining and warm. Judging by the closing credits, this movie was funded via Kickstarter. While this movie is as engaging as a “home movie”, it feels professionally filmed, edited, directed and produced. The inclusion of pop-up messages and emoji felt natural. The word “pop” even became a code word encompassing joy, friendship, love and caring. The two individuals of the title are Samantha Futerman (USA) and Anaïs Bordier (France). Both were adopted out of South Korea, but neither adoptive family was notified that either baby had a twin. A friend of Anaïs discovered a video made by Samantha posted on YouTube. From that point it was literally only a few keystrokes before the girls discovered one another and met (first via Skype, later in person). Samantha grew up with two brothers, while Anaïs grew up an only child. While they are obviously very similar in spite of the adoptive differences, Anaïs is the more inward of the two. Anaïs spoke about feeling unaccepted by others (this did not apply to her feelings about her adoptive parents) as a child. The trip to South Korea for Samantha and Anaïs was made to participate in the South Korean Adoptees Convention, but also to reconnect with their foster mothers and adoption center. Unfortunately the birth mother was not ready for contact or even willing to admit she had given birth to them. During visits to one another’s home and South Korean turned these two women (25 years old in 2013) turned into little girls that giggled, held hands and even slept in the same bed. It almost felt like they were fast-forwarding through the childhood that neither was able to share with the other. This documentary is a well-made and enjoyable showcase of acceptance and love that we should all share.