Coming to theatres today, Friday, July 17: TWINSTERS
Samantha Futerman and Ryan Miyamoto separated-at-birth tale bowed at SXSW this Spring. It has also screened at LA Asian Pacific and Maine before embarking on its theatrical release around the country.
Just about two and a half years ago, Futerman, a Los Angeles-based actress, was contacted through Facebook by Anais Bordier, a young French woman studying fashion in London who had seen a YouTube video featuring Futerman and was surprised by their uncanny resemblance. Comparing notes, they realized that their shared birthdate and birth place, Busan, Korea, most likely meant that they were twins, separated at birth through international adoption. Futerman began documenting their communication, and her own response to this unlikely situation, as the pair seek out answers and eventually meet in person. Fittingly for a relationship enabled by social media and modern technology, Futerman and Miyamoto’s film is swimming in Skype sessions, texting, and emojis, lending it a light, youthful feel while it draws the viewer into their immediately absorbing new sibling bonding. While there’s a lot of self-indulgence on display here – seemingly endless scenes of the sisters giggling, a too-rigid attempt to let the story play out in the moment when it’s not really necessary – the film nevertheless manages to pull off the feat of resonating on a genuine emotional level. If there is too much false build up of mystery or questioning over the foregone conclusion – they are clearly twins, despite supposed doubts – later scenes uniting the twins and their families, and a trip to Korea, pack more of an authentic punch – and a sweetness – that will connect with audiences whether they have been impacted by adoption or not.
what (not) to doc 