A serendipitous meeting at a corner shop in Ladbroke Grove, London, led to a heartfelt reunion between 21-year-old Oliver Archer and his biological father on October 27. When Archer overheard a man speaking Turkish, something began to change. In doing so, he kicked off the series of actions and conversations that would go on to radically transform his life.
Archer, who had always dreamed of reuniting with his father, was able to go up to the man when he heard him call in the language. He asked whether the man still lived and whether he would have known the lady by his mother’s name. After introductions and handshakes, Archer said something that would spark one of the most amazing stories I’ve ever heard.
At that, Archer continued, “I think I’m possibly your son.” The man, who Archer later learned was from Istanbul, looked taken aback. His father allegedly “sort of just froze” after receiving the news.
Archer didn’t unfortunately just luck into this moment. Two weeks ago, he agreed to take a genealogy ancestry DNA test, in hopes of finding an unknown link to his biological father. His incarceration, especially during his formative teenage years, worsened the damaging mental health effects of not being able to find his father due to social media searches. Now, he is surrounded by not only a dad, but five sisters and two brothers.
Ever since their initial meeting, Archer and his father have continued conversations through text messages. They’re already making plans to get coffee together next. Archer though, was thrilled by the link. Yet he was adamant about placing their relationship in doubt by demanding a DNA test.
“I just want us both to look at what we have now, and say, ‘Let’s build something from it’” – Mr. Archer
Her mother enthusiastically backed the reunion. She was ecstatic on behalf of her son when he broke the news of their meeting. She admitted that the man’s description sounded like the person she had met years earlier.
Even as the reunion unfolds, it is the story behind the family dynamic that looms larger. With all six other children claimed by Archer’s father, that leaves Oliver with 13 siblings in total. This reality complicates their developing romance, as Archer must think about the upcoming meetings with his new family.
“He told me he has six other children,” – Mr. Archer
Archer later recalled this serendipitous encounter as the kind of opportunity made possible by the magic of just being nice and having an intellectual conversation. He just implored people to be open to conversations with strangers, to take risks in that way because you never know what might happen.
“To anyone that is ever hesitant about talking to people, being kind, try to keep it rooted at the forefront of your heart,” – Mr. Archer
The rapidity with which their lives collided made a deep impression on Archer. In the span of just a few minutes of conversation, he was faced with the prospect of a decades-lost familial connection.
“This all happened in the space of three or four minutes of talking. It just so happened our lives crossed paths,” – Mr. Archer
Though Archer is excited about this recently-discovered connection, he’s careful not to raise hopes too high just yet. He expressed a hope that both parties could try to enter into their partnership without expectation or demand.
“I don’t want there to be any expectation, any sense of owing, resentment or anything,” – Mr. Archer
Oliver Archer explores the optimism and naiveté of a new relationship in his debut film. He wants to forge a true relationship with his dad and his siblings. He reflects on the rarity of their meeting and what can be taken from it.
“There’s definitely something you can get from it. In my case, I met my dad,” – Mr. Archer
