Rated: G
Directed by: Maite Alberdi
Produced by: Marcela Santibáñez
Executive Producer: Christopher Clements, Carolyn Hepburn, Julie Goldman
Featuring as Themselves: Sergio as the Spy, Romulo as the Private Detective, and the Residents of the Nursing Home: Berta “Bertita” Ureta, Marta Olivares, Petronila “Petita” Abarca, Rubira Olivares, Zoila González.
Spanish (Chilean) with English subtitles.
“Elderly man needed. Between 80-90 years old.”
Job: spying on old folks and staff in a nursing home for three months.
Well, to report back about target, Sophia Perez because her daughter is concerned that Sophia’s being mistreated.
It took me a moment to realise the film was a documentary as, The Mole Agent begins with this light-hearted tone of jazzy soundtrack featuring classic moments of eighty-plus-year-olds being taught to work mobile phones; the successful candidate, 83-year-old Sergio being shown how to call via Facetime, leave voicemail messages via WhatsApp to make his, ‘Deliveries’ or pass information to private investigator Romulo to then translate back to the client.
The older generation tying to figure mobile phones always leads to some amusing moments.
But Sergio gets it, kinda.
It was when the cameras filming the documentary were shown via a mobile camera as Sergio’s being taught to use the device that the film turns from comedy spy-movie to documentary.
Then we see Sergio enter the nursing home, one resident seen holding her walker with one hand, a hose to water the garden in the other and I realise this is a different kind of documentary.
Sergio begins his mission:
‘Did you meet the new man?’ One resident asks another.
Sergio causes quite a stir. He’s lucid. And a gentleman.
Director Maite Alberdi states that the team got authorisation from the nursing home with the understanding that the film was a documentary about the elderly (not following an unknown ‘spy’ reporting back to a private detective everyday while being filmed by the crew).
The production team were given permission to film for three months with 300 hours of material captured, plus the material filmed by Sergio himself using a spy pen – very clever, if not a little obvious. Particularly when other residents try to take the pen from his shirt pocket.
So the cameras are seen in the film and explained to the residents with the line about a documentary about the elderly so when new resident Sergio enters, it’s only natural the crew would take interest in the most recent addition.
At one point a resident sitting out in the sun points out to another gran, ‘They’re supposed to be filming a movie, not spying on us.’
But Sergio manages to continue his investigation about the treatment of Mrs Perez without getting busted.
There are many sweet moments: the thieving Marta with her quick hands, always asking when her mother’s going to take her home; there’s the poet Petita reciting her beautiful thoughts, the random resident cats and the surprise birthday celebrations.
There’s Berta who has a crush on Sergio saying she would consider giving God her virginity. Through her future husband (Sergio).
But realising the film is documentary and not a spy comedy, although there are some funny moments, makes the film that much sadder.
The Mole Agent is like a homage to the isolated and lonely elderly, left and abandoned by their families.
And the depth of sadness felt by these old folks as they try to buck-up and be positive but are really grieving about their lives lost in sacrifice to children who never visit them… It’s a bit of a heart-breaker.
Over time, instead of spying on the old folks, Sergio befriends them. And they absolutely love him for it: ‘Thank-you for the company you give us,’ says Zoila.
Even the camera crew were missed, ‘and we missed them!’ The crew reports.
The audience is shown how life is lived in these homes, getting to see behind the closed doors as the cameras become part of the landscape.
The Mole Agent is sweet and very sad; completely different to what I was expecting and truly unique.
When Alberdi was asked, “What do you hope audiences take away and learn from The Mole Agent?”
Alberdi replies, “I would like people who watch this movie to leave the movie theatre wanting to call their parents or grandparents. It is an invitation to look within yourself and ask what you can do better.”
