'Only Heaven Knows' Director Warns ICE Raids Now Make Films Like Hers Impossible

Nurzhamal Karamoldoeva’s poignant drama “Only Heaven Knows” offers a rare glimpse into the lives of the Kyrgyz diaspora in Chicago, a community that often remains invisible despite its size. The film, independently produced with support from local Kyrgyz immigrants, tells the story of Mira, a nail salon worker unraveling her husband’s secret life amid gambling debts and disappearance.

Shot in the spring of 2024, the production wrapped just before ICE raids intensified across the country. Karamoldoeva told Variety that the rising crackdown on immigrant communities has transformed the environment so drastically that making a film like hers now would be impossible. “When we were in the edit, we kept reading about the raids,” she said. “During the premiere in Chicago, people from the film team were concerned about attending as the ICE raids were in full effect. People were very cautious because they were so afraid.”

The director’s commitment to authenticity led her to cast mostly non-professional actors from the community, incorporating their real experiences with uncertain residency statuses and fractured families. The story’s roots in actual events — including a police car incident featured in the film — highlight the real dangers and hardships faced by immigrant families.

Chicago’s Kyrgyz population, sometimes dubbed “Chicagostan,” remains largely unknown to the wider public. Karamoldoeva hopes her film acts as a cultural bridge, making this vibrant yet vulnerable community visible. She also celebrates the growth of Kyrgyz cinema, which is gaining momentum through regional collaborations and international festivals.

“Only Heaven Knows” is more than a mystery drama — it’s a snapshot of immigrant resilience amid a hostile political climate. As ICE raids escalate, the film serves as a stark reminder of the human cost behind immigration enforcement policies that tear families apart and silence stories that need to be told.