American Sons is a PBS documentary that has been screened at prestigious film festivals such as SXSW. The film is a profoundly intimate documentary that traces the enduring scars of war through the story of Cpl. JV Villarreal, a Mexican American Marine from Texas, killed in action in Afghanistan. Told through JV’s own raw, never-before-seen combat footage and the decade-long emotional journey of his Marine brothers and family, the film is both a tribute and a courageous exploration of grief, resilience, and love.

Produced by Laura Varela and Directed by Andrew James Gonzales, both Texas natives, whose cultural roots mirror those of JV.  American Sons is more than a war story; it is a meditation on masculinity, community, and the silence that follows trauma. BIPOC veterans have historically been excluded from the dominant narrative of American military service; it is important to acknowledge the vast contributions of these veterans and communities.

The film is powered by unprecedented access, ethical storytelling, and a deep commitment to authenticity. Gonzales and Varela – working in collaboration with the participants – blend visceral frontline footage with intimate, peer-to-peer moments where warriors confront and release the weight of trauma – often for the first time. Supported by Latino Public Broadcasting, Black Public Media, and California Humanities, and guided by military and mental health advisors, American Sons resists reductive patriotism in favor of a more complicated truth.

Visually arresting and emotionally uncompromising, the film is both a reckoning and a call to action, challenging the nation to confront its obligations to those who serve. In its most powerful moments, American Sons reveals a rare and tender expression of brotherhood, proving the courage to heal can be as profound as the courage to fight.