Is ‘Found’ on Netflix Based on Real Life? The True Story Behind Heartbreaking Chinese Girls’ Story

In 2025, Netflix keeps viewers glued with a vault of stories that blur the line between reality and imagination. One moment, a tale seems to mirror real life; the next, it plunges into pure, unpredictable fiction.
Twists sneak up like clever traps, and characters linger long after the screen goes dark. It is a thrill ride where fact and fantasy collide, leaving audiences hooked and questioning everything, as is the case with Found on Netflix.
Originally released in 2021, Found now finds its home on Netflix, raising the chilling question: Did this heartbreaking story of Chinese girls truly unfold, or is it a haunting fiction crafted to feel all too real?
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Fact or fabrication? The enigma of Found
The documentary Found focuses on the true story of Chloe Lipitz, Lily Bolka, and Sadie Mangelsdorf, three Chinese-born girls adopted by American families who later discovered they are cousins through a DNA test. Separated by thousands of miles, they connected online and began tracing their shared past.
Their journey reveals the consequences of China’s one-child policy, which left many girls abandoned, and shows how modern DNA testing can reunite lost family members, uncovering an extraordinary real-life tale of identity, connection, and discovery.
In August 2021, Netflix acquired distribution rights to Found, which premiered at the Hamptons International Film Festival on October 9 and was released on October 20. The story of Chloe, Lily, and Sadie resonated globally, prompting messages from adoptees worldwide.
Critics hailed the film for its emotional depth, with Rotten Tomatoes giving 100 percent positive reviews and Metacritic awarding a score of 82. Found is not the only documentary to explore the far-reaching effects of China’s one-child policy, opening the door to other stories shaped by this historic law.
For a deeper look into the legacy of China’s one-child policy, One Child Nation on Prime delivers an eye-opening, unforgettable exploration that exposes heartbreaking stories similar to those touched on in Found.
One Child Nation: Stories that haunt and educate
One Child Nation is a powerful and harrowing documentary that exposes the devastating human impact of China’s one-child policy, in effect from 1979 to 2015. Directed by Nanfu Wang and Jialing Zhang, the film combines investigative reporting with deeply personal storytelling, as Wang explores her own family’s experiences.
From abandoned babies and forced adoptions to gender-based preference, the documentary reveals the shocking consequences of a policy designed to control a nation’s population, making it an essential watch.
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Building on its exploration of abandoned babies, forced adoptions, and gender-based preference, One Child Nation delves deeper into the human cost of China’s one-child policy. Nanfu Wang combines investigative reporting with personal reflection, uncovering both devastation and resilience.
With One Child Nation on Prime and Found now living in Netflix’s ever-growing vault, these stories continue to stir conversation and captivate audiences, highlighting the enduring impact of the policy.
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What do you think about the real-life story of Found? Let us know in the comments below.
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Edited By: Itti Mahajan
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