Try Harder! (2021)
A documentary that goes inside one of America's most competitive high schools, where the race for elite college admission defines everything.
Try Harder! - Movie Information
- Release Year: 2021
- Directed by: Debbie Lum
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Documentary
- Runtime: 1h 25m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: Mandarin, English
- Release Date (Theatrical): December 3, 2021 (United States)
- Production Companies: ITVS, Center for Asian American Media (CAAM), California Humanites, XTR, Corporation for Public Broadcasting
- Production Countries: United States of America
Try Harder! - Plot
In a universe where cool kids are nerds, the orchestra is world class and being Asian American is the norm, seniors at Lowell High School compete for the top prize: admission to the college of their dreams.
Try Harder! - Trailer
See the pressure, the ambition, and the heart behind Lowell High School's senior year:
Lowell High School: Where your best hasn't been good enough since 1856.
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Try Harder! - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Debbie Lum
Producers
- Lou Nakasako
- Nico Opper
- Debbie Lum
Try Harder! - FAQs
What is Try Harder! about?
Try Harder! follows seniors at Lowell High School in San Francisco — one of the most competitive public schools in the country — as they chase admission to their dream colleges. The film explores academic pressure, identity, and what it means to succeed, with a particular focus on the school's large Asian American student population.
Does Try Harder! have a happy ending?
The film doesn't wrap up with a neat, triumphant conclusion for everyone. Some students get into their dream schools, others don't — and that honest, bittersweet outcome is part of what makes the documentary so resonant. It's less about winning and more about the journey and the cost of relentless ambition.
Where can you stream or watch Try Harder!?
You can rent or buy Try Harder! on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It's widely available across major digital platforms, so finding it shouldn't be a problem.
Is Try Harder! worth watching for non-Asian viewers?
Absolutely. While the film centers on Asian American students and the specific pressures they face, its themes — parental expectations, self-worth, fear of failure — are deeply universal. Critics praised it for being both a sharp social commentary and an emotionally engaging portrait of adolescence under pressure.
Who directed Try Harder! and what is her background?
Debbie Lum directed the film. She's a San Francisco-based documentary filmmaker known for exploring Asian American identity and experience. Try Harder! grew out of years of access she built with Lowell High School students, giving the film an unusually intimate and authentic feel.
What is Lowell High School and why does it matter?
Lowell High School is a prestigious public magnet school in San Francisco, founded in 1856 and consistently ranked among the top public high schools in the United States. It admits students based on academic merit and is known for its fiercely competitive culture, making it the perfect setting for this documentary.
How was Try Harder! received by critics?
The film earned strong critical praise, with reviewers highlighting its warmth, honesty, and nuanced look at race and academic pressure in America. It was celebrated for humanizing its subjects rather than reducing them to stereotypes, and it resonated widely at film festivals before its theatrical and streaming release.
What genre is Try Harder! and how long is it?
Try Harder! is a documentary — no dramatizations, just real students navigating one of the most stressful years of their lives. It runs 85 minutes, which makes it a tight, focused watch that never overstays its welcome.
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