Saturday, Jan 22 at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. — WOODSTOCK —The Woodstock Vermont Film Series will present “Try Harder” a humorous and heartfelt look at the reality of the American college application process.
“Try Harder”
The documentary focuses on San Francisco’s top public high school, Lowell High school, where seniors are stressed out. As they prepare for the emotionally draining college application process, students are keenly aware of the intense competition for the few open spots in their dream colleges. They scrutinize how every element of their application, from their classes to their extracurricular activities to their racial identities, might be read by admission officers.
At Lowell, cool kids are nerds, nearly everyone has an amazing talent, and most of the student body is Asian American. With humor and heart, director Debbie Lum shows us the reality of the American college application process and the intersection of class, race, and educational opportunity as experienced by high school seniors living through it. “Try Harder” is a portrait of young adults in the most diverse American generation ever as they navigate a quintessential rite of passage and make it their own.
This season, the 12th annual Woodstock Vermont Film Series will present a selection of 10 diverse films reflecting Billings Farm & Museum’s vision to share place-based stories of people near and far, to engage our audiences, and to inspire conversations that increase connections with each other and our world. The Woodstock Vermont Film Series is curated and directed by award-winning filmmaker Jay Craven, and produced by the Billings Farm & Museum, with generous support from local sponsors.
Reservations are strongly recommended as seating is limited. Purchase advance tickets online at billingsfarm.org/filmseries or reserve by phone at 802-457-5303 by noon on Jan. 21. Tickets may be available for purchase at the Ticket Desk on the day of the film if seating allows.
Masks and proof of vaccination are required to attend. It is recommended to provide proof of vaccination online in advance to avoid lines. Find the form at billingsfarm.org/proof-of-vaccination-form. For a complete list of screenings and to purchase tickets visit billingsfarm.org/filmseries.
