Love, Chaos, Kin: A Documentary Challenging Mainstream Adoption Narratives
April 17, 2025
World Premiere at CAAMfest – May 11, 2025
Eight years ago, I found myself at a crossroads. As an Indian immigrant navigating life after divorce, I quietly began considering adoption. But with that consideration came a flood of questions: Can I adopt in America? How do I preserve my language, culture, and religion while raising a child in a culture adjacent to their birth heritage?
Like many of us in moments of uncertainty, I turned to the internet—where I stumbled upon a blog by Lakshmi Iyer, an adoptive mother. On a whim, I sent her a message. That single email sparked an extraordinary journey—one that evolved from conversation to meeting to a simple question: “Can I film your family for three days?”
Those three days turned into six years of filming and eighteen months of editing, unfolding one of the most profound stories I’ve ever witnessed. Love, Chaos, Kin is not just a documentary—it’s a counter-narrative, a rare glimpse into an adoption story rarely seen in mainstream media. It follows an Indian immigrant family, their adopted white-passing, Navajo-descent twins, and the children’s White birth mother, offering visibility to the complexities of mixed American families.
Why “Love, Chaos, Kin”?
The title captures the essence of adoption’s emotional landscape. Both birth and adoptive mothers act out of love, yet life forces them through chaotic, difficult choices. What emerges is kinship—the deep, intentional bonds that form despite (and because of) the challenges. The film advocates for adoption practices that center children’s well-being while maintaining connections with birth families.
For me, making this documentary over the past 7.5 years has been a journey of self-discovery. It forced me to question: Why do I want to be a parent? Is this desire innate or shaped by society? What does meaningful parenthood look like? Spanning 12 years in the lives of two mothers and their daughters, the film offers an intimate look at the forces that led to adoption, the ongoing questions they grapple with, and the relentless effort required to nurture authentic connections between children, birth parents, and adoptive families—what is called the adoption trifecta.
At its core, Love, Chaos, Kin is a universal story about what makes a family and how our identities are shaped by both the people present—and absent—in our lives.
In an America increasingly fragmented by echo chambers, this film challenges us to expand our empathy. How do we bridge cultural and social divides? Can we truly understand experiences different from our own? Love, Chaos, Kin invites viewers to reflect on these questions while celebrating the messy, beautiful reality of a chosen family.
Join Us for the World Premiere
This film would not exist without the generosity of organizations like the Center for Asian American Media, Chicken & Egg Films, New York State Council for the Arts, NYC Women’s Film Fund, Jerome Foundation, Illumine Service Foundation, Eastman Foundation, and the Puffin Foundation, as well as the dedication of countless collaborators. But making the film is only half the journey—it must be seen, shared, and discussed to truly matter. That’s where you come in.
Love, Chaos, Kin will have its World Premiere at CAAMfest, the largest showcase for new Asian American and Asian films.
? MAY 11, 2025
? AMC KABUKI 1, San Francisco, CA
?️ Get Tickets Here: https://caamfest.com/2025/movies/love-chaos-kin/
Come witness what happens when love gets messy—and beautiful—all at once. Stay for the Q&A and meet the incredible people behind this story. See you there!
About the Author:
CHITHRA JEYARAM (she/her) is a physical therapist turned filmmaker with an MFA in Film from the University of Texas at Austin. She identifies as Tamil. Her films reveal the extraordinary in the everyday, honoring the unique wisdom, resilience, and love that define both biological and chosen families. Her short film RAGS TO PADS tells the story of a husband who destigmatized menstruation, framing it as a societal issue rather than just a women’s issue. Her next film, FOREIGN PUZZLE, is a poignant exploration of motherhood that contrasts cancer’s brutality with the resilience of dance. As the lead producer of the short documentary AMMA’S PRIDE, she spearheads an innovative impact campaign to bring the film to a million people in rural Tamil Nadu. The film champions unwavering parental support for trans people and marriage equality. In addition to directing and producing, she has edited SEX WORK: IT’S JUST A JOB (2025, Feature Doc, Coming Soon), ONE THOUSAND AND ONE BERBER NIGHTS (2023, Feature Doc). Chithra is an adjunct faculty member at NYU. She is an alumna of prestigious programs, including Visions du Réel’s RoughCut Lab, the Chicken & (Egg)celerator Lab, the BGDM Artist Fellowship, the Gotham Documentary Fellowship, and the Jerome Foundation grant. Her films have been showcased by platforms and festivals such as 2M, PBS, CBSN, Apple TV, BlackStar, SXSW, and DOC NYC. Food is her first love, and she is an avid runner who has completed 15 marathons. She calls Chennai and New York City home and is writing her first screenplay, THE LONGEST SUMMER.
