"Warm, Clear-eyed, and Quietly Radical"
- Shailaja Rao, Programmer, Seattle International Film Festival
One family, many ways to belong!
What happens when an Indian immigrant mother decides her adopted children deserve to know everything—their white birth mother, their Navajo father, and every complicated truth in between? Spanning 12 years, Love Chaos Kin is an intimate, patient, and humorous look at a transracial adoptive family redefining identity and belonging.
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Directed, produced, filmed, and edited by Chithra Jeyaram
Featuring: Lakshmi Iyer, Katherine Faye [AKA Brandy Stein], Anjali Iyer, Asher Faye [AKA Cecilia or Meghna Iyer], Narayanan Iyer and Sahana Iyer
director's statement
LOVE CHAOS KIN emerged from a deeply personal journey. As an Indian immigrant contemplating adoption, I found myself grappling with 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? By showcasing the experiences of an Indian immigrant family and their adopted white-passing, Navajo-descent twins, LOVE CHAOS KIN provides a much-needed counter-narrative and visibility to mixed American family dynamics. It advocates for adoption practices that prioritize children’s well-being and maintain connections with birth families. At a time of significant social and political strife globally, the film shows how everyday citizens bridge divides and unite for the children they love.
Distribution, Outreach and Impact
LOVE CHAOS KIN engages a diverse cross-section of intergenerational audiences worldwide, spreading a message of empathy and interconnectedness. The film advocates for ethical, child-centered adoption that maintains contact with birth families while instilling pride and a sense of belonging for immigrant communities. Through screening events, workshops, and community engagement,ement, the project fosters connection and empowers audiences toward greater civic participation.
Love Chaos Kin was made with the support of
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