Guide Note:

American Son is a 2008 film by Neil Abramson, which stars Nick Cannon as a Marine who spends a Thanksgiving weekend home with his family and friends in Bakersfield, California before he is scheduled to ship off to Iraq.

Fast Facts:

1. Competing in the 2008 Sundance Film Festival
2. Starring Nick Cannon, Melonie Diaz, Matt O’Leary, Jay Hernandez, Tom Sizemore and Chi McBride
3. Directed by Neil Abramson

The film, directed by South African-born Neil Abramson from a screenplay by Eric Schmid, follows a fateful 96 hours in the life of Mike Holland (Nick Cannon). Holland is about to be shipped to Iraq, and his Thanksgiving leave from Camp Pendleton is his last chance to see his friends and family before departure. However, Holland, throughout the film, refuses to tell anyone where he is headed, and for most of the movie, at least, the viewer is the only one who knows his secret. In the 96 hours, which are counted down throughout the film, Holland visits his frazzled mother (April Grace), much-younger sister (Erica Gluck), and stand-offish stepdad (Tom Sizemore). He also reconnects with his estranged father (Chi McBride) and high school hooligan friend Jake (Matt O'Leary). But the real joy of his last hours at home is a budding relationship with the beautiful Hispanic girl he meets on the bus back into town (Melonie Diaz)—a girl he might just give up everything for.