On April 22, 1984, three children aged 2, 4, and 6 were found alone at Barcelona's Estació de França. They spoke French and claimed to be from Paris, but could not identify their parents or explain their presence there. They were never claimed and were adopted by a pair of Barcelona educators, who offered them a new life. Now, 40 years later, these adults want to uncover the secrets of their past, a search narrated in the docuseries Abandonats. Un cas de Carles Porta.
The production, which will premiere on Disney+ on May 29, presented its first episode at the DocsBarcelona festival. Unlike other works by the creator, this series does not start from a predefined crime or a known outcome. According to the journalist, the story is built as the investigation progresses, becoming a journey of discovery.
“"Here we don't start from a crime. It's a great story, and that's it."
The initiative for this search came from one of the siblings, who contacted several production companies for support. Her intention was not to sell the story, but to find someone to accompany her in the process of finding her parents. The project revealed that, in the 1980s, the initial investigation by social services was limited and did not delve deeply into the case.
During the investigation, the siblings received unexpected collaboration from journalists, such as the British Giles Tremlett, who brought visibility to the case in The Guardian, independent investigators, and citizens who, moved by the story, dedicated time to tracing archives and clues. This network of selfless support was fundamental to the progress of the search.
“"After telling the story on the radio, I found a lot of people who, selflessly, decided to help us. For me, this is one of the most beautiful parts of this journey."
The need to delve into her origins arose in one of the siblings when she was about to become a mother, driven by the desire to know her past. She convinced her siblings to start the investigation and became the common thread of the docuseries, as the emotional journey focuses on her experience.
The investigation takes them through several European countries, such as France, Belgium, and Switzerland, in a journey divided into four chapters: Abandonment, Search, Origins, and Answers. The process was full of ups and downs, with moments of joy from new discoveries and frustration from dead ends or the loss of key testimonies.
“"It has been a roller coaster."
The emotional involvement of the team with the siblings was inevitable, creating a personal bond. For the siblings, this experience has not only served to seek answers but also to strengthen their relationship and share intense moments.
