Still living in the hoarder’s house she grew up in, young adult Dara contemplates moving forward in life.

Director - Jamie Lam

Film can be a form of therapy, albeit perhaps not the most practical or easiest route to finding catharsis. Growing up in a hoarder's home, I dealt with countless emotions that I struggled to come to terms with. So much shame, anger, and sadness came with not living in an environment conducive to freedom and choice.

I wanted not just physical space, but a space to invite friends and family, a space to decorate and express; a space to create. Perhaps that is why I turned to film as a medium. I can create to my heart's content, play within the realm of the frame, and express myself through objects, images, and moments however I please.

Even now, at age 25, I continue to live in a hoarder's house with my parents. Before making "The Mess We're In", I asked myself—Why am I still here? This film became the journey to finding that answer. I wanted to explore the cognitive dissonance that children of hoarders like myself undergo when you grow up in what can be a very loving home, but ultimately is a very stress-inducing environment. I hope the world can understand us just a bit better, and the mess that we all live in.