Try Harder!

Premiered May 02, 2022
Directed by Debbie Lum

At San Francisco’s Lowell High School, stressed-out seniors chase college dreams.

About the Documentary

At Lowell High School, San Francisco's academic pressure cooker, the kids are stressed out. With a majority Asian American student body, high-achieving seniors share their dreams and anxieties about getting into a top university. But is college worth the grind?

The Filmmakers

Debbie Lum

Debbie Lum (producer/director) explored cultural stereotypes in My Tiger Mom and Seeking Asian Female. She made two short docs for Wayne Wang about his films Chan Is Missing and Dim Sum, co-produced and edited Kelly Loves Tony (PBS’s POV), and edited To You Sweetheart, Aloha and the Emmy-winning a.k.a. Don Bonus (POV). Lum wrote and directed fictional films Chinese Beauty, A Great Deal! and One April Morning.

Documentaries Available to Watch Now

slide 4 to 6 of 30
Film poster for Without Arrows
Film poster for Minted
Film poster for Minted Test

Documentaries Coming Soon

slide 6 to 8 of 6
Film poster for Home Court
Film poster for We Want the Funk
Film poster for Free for All: The Public Library

Awards

2021 Independent Spirit Awards

Truer Than Fiction Award

Learn More About the Documentary

Four black and white marbled composition notebook emblazoned with the phrase "Try Harder!" set against a yellow background.
Contests

Try to Win a Try Harder! Notebook
Students walk outside the entrance to Lowell High School.
Beyond the Films

A Wild Two Years Since ‘Try Harder’: What You Need to Know About Lowell High School
A scantron sheet from a standardized test with a yellow post-it stuck to it reading "Are you smarter than a high schooler?"
Test Your Knowledge

A Hard “Try Harder!” Quiz: Are You Smarter than a High Schooler?
An illustration of a young girl weighed down by a heavy red and yellow backpack.
Beyond the Films

How Today’s High School Students Face High Pressure in a Grind Culture
An Asian American student smiles at graduation, wearing a burgundy cap and gown.
Behind the Films

Telling Asian American Stories That Resonate: Filmmaker Explores Why These High School Students Are Stressed Out

Promotional Resources

Social Media Toolkit
Press Kit
Discussion Guide
Download All