Try Harder!

Try Harder!

Premiered May 2, 2022

Directed by

Debbie Lum

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

Preview

EXPLORE THE FILM

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 Filmmaker

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.

Full Credits

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Awards

  • 2021 Independent Spirit Awards

    Truer Than Fiction Award

Learn more about the documentary

Enter to Win

Try to Win a Try Harder! Notebook

Students at the entrance to Lowell High School
What's New?

A Wild Two Years Since 'Try Harder': What You Need to Know About Lowell High School

are you smarter than a high schooler? graphic looking like a school bubble test with pencil
Test Yourself

A Hard "Try Harder!" Quiz: Are You Smarter than a High Schooler?

illustrated graphic of girl weighted down by red backpack. credit: Getty Images/Malte Mueller.
Deep Dive

How Today’s High School Students Face High Pressure in a Grind Culture

Sophia at Graduation, happy in cap and gown
Filmmaker Q&A

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

Promotional Resources

High school age girl and boy looking at piece of paper in classroom.
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