Here’s the link to an interview with Aurora Meneghello and Serge Bakalian, the filmmakers of Default: The Student Loan Documentary.
EW: Does student loan debt have a different effect on people than other types of debt?
AM: What we learned by talking to many people is that student loan debt is so intertwined in sense of self. Essentially you borrow money to invest in yourself, to invest in the career of your dreams. We’re constantly fed this story that if we just follow what we want to do, the money will come – if we just believe in ourselves and work hard, we’ll make it. The reality is this is just an economic issue, but people’s sense of self-esteem just crumbles sometimes, and depression sets in, and this idea that I failed myself and I failed in my life. I think that is particular to student debt, and we wanted to show its effect.