[07/18/24 - 07:31 AM] ESPN Films' Upcoming 30 for 30 "American Son" to Air July 29 at 7pm on ESPN and ESPN+ The film captures a pivotal moment in sports and history, as it chronicles the remarkable journey of Michael Chang, a young tennis prodigy whose ascent to fame coincided with an unfathomable and unforgettable upset of Ivan Lendl at the 1989 French Open.
[via press release from ESPN]
ESPN Films' Upcoming 30 for 30 "American Son" to air July 29 at 7pm on ESPN and ESPN+
American Son captures a pivotal moment in sports and history, as it chronicles the remarkable journey of Michael Chang, a young tennis prodigy whose ascent to fame coincided with an unfathomable and unforgettable upset of Ivan Lendl at the 1989 French Open
ESPN Films' upcoming 30 for 30 "American Son" will air on July 29th at 7pm on ESPN and ESPN+.
The film's director Jay Caspian Kang said: "I've been a fan of the 30 for 30 series since it debuted and am very excited for "American Son" to be part of that proud tradition. When I set out to make the film, I was hoping to capture the moment when an immigrant family becomes American. Michael and his mother Betty's story takes us through both the emotions and the work that it takes to become American, but also the inevitable regrets and nostalgia that one might have for their homeland. For Michael, who was born in America and raised on the tennis courts of middle-class San Diego, I wanted to show how an American kid can sometimes be forced to understand his parents in a different light."
"This fundamental question: How does a person become an American has been the central preoccupation of my career, whether as a journalist or as a filmmaker and I hope that this film will be a clear and evocative answer to that question," added Kang.
Additional details - including synopsis, air date, and filmmakers - are detailed below.
American Son
Premieres July 29 at 7pm on ESPN and will stream on ESPN+
American Son captures a pivotal moment in sports and history, as it chronicles the remarkable journey of Michael Chang, a young tennis prodigy whose ascent to fame coincided with an unfathomable and unforgettable upset of Ivan Lendl at the 1989 French Open. The documentary delves into Chang's upbringing shaped by his family's immigrant experience, his rapid rise in the tennis world, and the challenges he overcame to achieve success.
Directed by Jay Caspian Kang. Executive Produced by ESPN Films and Words + Pictures.
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About ESPN Films
ESPN Films has been an industry leader in documentary filmmaking since its inception in March 2008, producing more than 100 documentaries that have showcased some of the most compelling stories in sports. The high quality of storytelling, highlighted by the Peabody and Emmy Award-winning 30 for 30 series and the Academy-Award winning documentary "O.J.: Made in America," has led to record viewership as well as multiple honors and critical acclaim. Additional projects from ESPN Films over the years have included 30 for 30 Shorts, Nine for IX, SEC Storied and Emmy award-winning docu-series "The Last Dance." ESPN+ is the exclusive home for the entire 30 for 30 library.
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