“People like you and me, we don’t have to play by the rules,
we can make our own.”

Better Luck Tomorrow

About: Never underestimate an over-achiever. To his classmates and teachers, high-schooler Ben Manibag (Parry Shen) appears to be the “model” student: a perfectionist and over-achiever, destined for nothing less than graduating at the top of his class and then attending a prestigious college. But underneath this persona is a darker side — Ben and his bored high-school buddies lead double lives, flying high in a world of petty crime and material excess in order to ease the pressures of “being perfect.” It’s a free-wheeling lifestyle that soon takes a downward spiral, leading to an unexpected end. An Official Selection at the Sundance Film Festival, Better Luck Tomorrow is a gripping, edgy, and provocative film that rips the tranquil, well-manicured facade off of middle-class suburbia and cultural stereotypes. (Paramount Movies)

Director: Justin Lin

Year Released: 2002

Rating: R

Run Time: 101 minutes

Cast: With Parry Shen, Jason Tobin, Sung Kang, Roger Fan, John Cho, Karin Anna Cheung, and Jerry Mathers

Showing: May 28, 8:30 p.m.