Borrowed Future

Borrowed Future is a compelling 2021 documentary that seeks to unearth the shocking truths and deceptive practices surrounding the United States' student loan industry. Directed by Corey Claggett and produced by Rachel Cruze, the film features enriching commentary from renowned financial coach Dave Ramsey, bestselling author Seth Godin, and youth speaker Anthony O'Neal, among others.

Borrowed Future opens with the assertion that U.S. student loan debt has surpassed $1.6 trillion, impacting over 44 million Americans - a burgeoning crisis that has been growing and remains largely ignored by the mainstream media. The film is presented in a clear, digestible manner, incorporating eye-opening interviews, data driven visuals, personal anecdotes, and concise narration that delivers a complex subject in a relatable and comprehensible manner.

The film coalesces around Dave Ramsey's unique perspective that combines his expertise in financial counseling and his personal experiences with debt. Ramsey is known for his straightforward approach and his timeless wisdom infuses the narrative, leading viewers through a sobering journey from the origin to the consequences of student loans. The financial expert elucidates how debt has become ingrained in the American mindset, and the dangers it presents to individuals and the economy.

Seth Godin, the innovator and marketing guru, brings his unique viewpoint to the table. Godin emphasizes the importance of education, but he questions if the escalating cost of college is worth the potential burden of life-long debt. His challenging insights provide the audience with a different perspective on the value of higher education and the choices students can make towards their future.

Through heart-wrenching personal stories, Anthony O'Neal, known for his impactful youth seminars, illustrates how student loans impact real lives. This includes stories of students graduating with enormous debt, to parents putting their retirements on the line to fund their children's education, to tales of those who were misled by predatory lending practices. These testimonies underscore the enormity of the issue and bring home the devastating effects of the student loan industry.

Set within a larger construct of the soaring cost of education, the allure of the "college dream," and a society that encourages debt as a rite of passage, Borrowed Future exposes the tendrils of student loans that have wrapped themselves into the American Dream. The movie contends with some fundamental questions: Is attending college, and accruing the associated debt, the only way to secure a stable future? Are there alternative routes to success without the looming shadow of debt?

The narrative also explores the role of universities, financial institutions, and the government in perpetuating this crisis. The documentary digs into the tactics used by these organizations to entice students and parents into taking on vast amounts of debt. This includes the truth hidden in the fine print, the psychological manipulation involved in the process, and the delusory promise of an easy repayment plan.

However, Borrowed Future is not all gloom. The film also provides hope by offering possible solutions to minimize and prevent the debt crisis. It introduces the audience to stories of individuals who went against the status quo, opted out of the system, and sought unconventional paths to education, showcasing that college can be accomplished without succumbing to crippling debt. The film inspires its audience to critically think about their choices and explore alternative pathways to success that don't involve massive debt.

In essence, Borrowed Future is a social commentary on the status of higher education in America, and its pivot point - the student debt crisis. It is an unflinchingly honest look at an issue affecting millions and is a must-see for anyone planning to attend college or anyone who is looking to understand the current state of higher education financing. As much as it is a critique of the system, the documentary is also a helpful guide and a clarion call to change the narrative around education, success, and debt in America.