The American Friend follows Indigenous Activist Robert Roche who, in an attempt to memorialize his own life, gifts people flash drives containing various documents that he believes to represent his life and legacy. Filmmakers Rowan Gould-Bayba, Jace Mason, Imogen Pranger, and Despina Rizopoulos set out to make sense of Roche's life, impact, and persona after receiving one of his flash drives.