Inseparable Sisters: uplifting BBC documentary about conjoined twins
A 'refreshingly human and optimistic' portrayal that balances reality with positivity

"The challenge when making a documentary about conjoined twins is acknowledging the reality of the life-shortening condition without resorting to fake positivity – or, worse yet, piling on the misery," said Ed Power in The Daily Telegraph. This "refreshingly humane and optimistic" documentary from BBC One walks that tightrope "to perfection".
It tells the story of Marieme and Ndeye Ndiaye, who were born in Senegal in 2016 and, before long, moved to the UK with their father, Ibrahima, to receive treatment. The initial plan had been to separate the sisters; but "when it was discovered that Marieme's heart could not survive the procedure, the roadmap had to be redrawn". The twins are portrayed "not as victims or charity cases to be gawped at", but children bursting with personality; and the effect is "hugely uplifting". Ibrahima left everything – "home, wife and other children, job, country" – to give his daughters a chance at life, said Chitra Ramaswamy in The Guardian. At its core, the documentary is a tribute to "the almighty power of parental love" and duty; and a very moving one.
I was also charmed by the willingness of everyone around the girls to chip in to help, said Christopher Stevens in the Daily Mail. It's a shame, though, that the programme makers didn't feature the twins' mother, who is in Senegal looking after their siblings. "If this programme had been extended to an hour, instead of being confined to 40 minutes, we might have learnt something of how the girls felt about missing her."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
October 13 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Monday's political cartoons include Donald Trump's consolation prize, government workers during shutdown, and more
-
Can Gaza momentum help end the war in Ukraine?
Today's Big Question Zelenskyy’s request for long-range Tomahawk missiles hints at ‘warming relations’ between Ukraine and US
-
The Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners being released
The Explainer Triumphant Donald Trump addresses the Israeli parliament as families on both sides of the Gaza war reunite with their loved ones
-
The delightful, smutty world of Jilly Cooper
In the Spotlight Millions mourn the ‘Mrs Kipling of sex’
-
Choose your own wellness adventure in Greater Palm Springs
The Week Recommends Hit the spa, try a sound bath or take a hike
-
A Taylor Swift analysis, the digital-addiction solution plus what it means to be a gay Black artist — all in October books
The Week Recommends This month's new releases include ‘Taylor’s Version’ by Stephanie Burt, ‘Enshittification’ by Cory Doctorow and ‘Minor Black Figures’ by Brandon Taylor
-
Lee Miller at the Tate: a ‘sexy yet devastating’ show
The Week Recommends The ‘revelatory’ exhibition tells the photographer’s story ‘through her own impeccable eye’
-
6 eye-catching rounded homes
Feature Featuring a central spiral staircase in Michigan and a Balinese-style estate with ocean views in Hawaii
-
A House of Dynamite: a ‘nail-biting’ nuclear-strike thriller
The Week Recommends ‘Virtuoso talent’ Kathryn Bigelow directs a ‘fast-paced’ and ‘tense’ ‘symphony of dread’
-
The Finest Hotel in Kabul: a ‘haunting’ history of modern Afghanistan
The Week Recommends Lyse Doucet’s sensitively written work traces over 50 years of Kabul’s ‘Inter-Con’ hotel
-
The Smashing Machine: Dwayne Johnson is ‘magnetic’ in gritty biopic
The Week Recommends The wrestler-turned-Hollywood-actor takes on the role of troubled UFC champion Mark Kerr