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

Documentaries Available to Watch Now

Sister Úna Lived a Good Death
Racist Trees
If Dreams Were Lightning: Rural Healthcare Crisis
Beyond Utopia
Breaking Silence
A Town Called Victoria
Three Chaplains
El Equipo
Silent Beauty
Sam Now
Matter of Mind: My ALS

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.
Social Media Toolkit Press Kit Discussion Guide Download All