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Deep Dive: Twin Sisters (2013)

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Twin Sisters
Twin Sisters is a documentary directed by Mona Friis Bertheussen, released in 2013. The film tells the story of two sisters, Alexandra Hauglum and Mia Hansen, who were found as babies in a cardboard box in a Southern Chinese village in 2003. They were taken to an orphanage in Changsha, Hunan Province, where they were adopted by separate families. Alexandra grows up in Fresvik, Norway, while Mia is raised in Sacramento, California. The film captures their lives until they reunite at the age of eight in Norway, revealing their twin connection that their adoptive parents were initially unaware of. The production took about four years, with filming occurring in both Norway and California. Funding came from various sources, including the Norwegian Film Institute and several television channels. The film received multiple awards, including the Audience Award at the 2013 International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam. It has been broadcast by over 30 television channels, reaching a global audience and receiving acclaim from critics and viewers alike.

Why Watch

  • •Meet Alexandra Hauglum and Mia Hansen, separated twins.
  • •See their reunion in Norway at age eight.
  • •Find out how they were discovered in a cardboard box.

Did You Know

•The film won the Audience Award at the 2013 International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam.
•In 2014, Norway's TV2 reported it was their most watched documentary in over four years.
•The film received funding from the Norwegian Film Institute and Creative Europe.
•Twin Sisters was pitched at the 2010 Sheffield Doc/Fest MeetMarket.

Perfect For

Adoption storiesSibling connectionsInternational documentaries