Twin Sisters: A World Apart

Twin Sisters: A World Apart tells the remarkable true story of identical twin sisters separated at birth and adopted by families on opposite sides of the world. It follows the lives of Mia and Alexandra, two girls born in China who were found as infants in a cardboard box in 2003. They were taken to an orphanage in Changsha, Hunan Province, where they were individually adopted by two separate families – one from Norway and one from the United States.

The Norwegian couple, Wenche and Sigmund Hauglum, adopted Alexandra and raised her in the small village of Fresvik, surrounded by mountains and fjords. Meanwhile, Angela and Andy Hansen from Sacramento, California adopted Mia, bringing her up in a bustling American city. Initially, neither set of parents knew their daughters were twins. However, a chance encounter at the orphanage on adoption day led to suspicions that were later confirmed through DNA testing.

As the girls grew up, they lived vastly different lives. Alexandra enjoyed a quiet rural upbringing in Norway, tending to a pet mouse and walking to school alone along country roads. Mia, on the other hand, experienced a typical American childhood filled with scheduled activities like violin lessons, Girl Scouts, and soccer. Despite the geographical distance and cultural differences, the documentary reveals striking similarities between the twins in their personalities, mannerisms, and interests.

Throughout their childhood, Mia and Alexandra maintained contact through letters, phone calls, and occasional visits. The film captures the emotional journey of both families as they navigate the complexities of raising separated twins. It showcases the girls’ strong bond and their longing to be together, despite speaking different languages and living in vastly different environments.

Twin Sisters: A World Apart focuses on the reunion of Mia and Alexandra in Norway when they are eight years old. The documentary captures their excitement as they prepare to meet, and the immediate connection they share upon seeing each other. Viewers witness the twins exploring Alexandra’s village together, their similarities becoming even more apparent as they interact.

The film raises thought-provoking questions about the nature of family, identity, and the influence of nature versus nurture. It highlights the challenges faced by transnational adoptees and the impact of separation on siblings. Through interviews with the parents and footage of the girls, the documentary provides insight into the emotional complexities of international adoption and the powerful genetic bond between twins.