THE MOLE AGENT: FILM REVIEW
Although the cast of Maite Alberdi’s The Mole Agent is almost entirely composed of elderly people, the film never misses or drags a single beat.
In The Mole Agent, an 83-year-old Chilean man named Sergio is tasked by a private investigator to be an unsuspecting mole at a retirement home. He poses as one of the facility’s aging residents, and his task is to find out if a client’s mother, Sonia, is being treated properly at the home. Each day, Sergio reports back to Romuli, the investigator, through WhatsApp by sending voice memos and files recorded on his spy camera. Sergio’s charming demeanor and compassionate nature make him a catch at the nursing home, and although his initial investigative task focuses on figuring out if anything fishy is going on with the residents and their caretakers, the old man (although young at heart) ends up discovering much more.
Much of The Mole Agent’s appeal comes not only from Sergio’s observations, but also from the camera’s perspective. The film’s humoristic shots include elongated scenes of old women annoying each other as they sit side by side on a park bench and telling glances between the facilities’ long-time residents as they whisper about their attractive new resident, who is most frequently praised as being a “gentleman.” When Sergio comes over, the women blush — not only because the ratio between men and women in the nursing home is absurdly unbalanced, but also because Sergio is one of the few residents who has the capacity to actually engage with, respond, and listen to the stories of those who have long been neglected. An extraverted and proud Berta even develops a not-so-subtle crush on Sergio and begins to craft plans for their future marriage. Sergio, a recent widow, does not reciprocate, but like any gentleman, assures her that it is due to no fault other than his own.
In many ways, The Mole Agent is like any detective movie. Sergio frequently uses various nifty gadgets, scribbling down observations on a little notepad and taking video recordings of the space around him. However, most of the footage used in the actual documentary does not come from the raw clips that Sergio captures. Scenes are largely shot by the film’s cameraman — allowing the viewer to get a glimpse into Sergio’s interactions with the residents as well as the difference between the reality of the nursing home condition and what Sergio reports. It is a curious and creative approach to documentary filmmaking — one that emphasizes the viewer’s position as the observer’s observer.
While The Mole Agent is riddled with quirky and funny moments, it is also a heartbreaking look at the harsh realities of what many face at the end of their life. Although many of the nursing home’s residents do need living assistance, others are still fully autonomous. They are sent to the facility by their families who, in any capacity, do not have the resources, time, or will take care for them anymore. It may seem like these elderly residents are oblivious to their situation, but in reality, they are painfully aware. After all, loneliness is hard to ignore. Even those who are beginning to lose their memories still retain enough to remember that those who they thought would be there until the end (usually their children) have not paid a visit in a very, very long time.
Although The Mole Agent’s endearing qualities carry the film, it is Sergio’s insightful and tender nature that really drive the story. It is impossible to leave the film without reflecting on one’s own life and the inevitability of aging. And, as Sergio discovers, the key to being content at the end of one’s life is not dependent on the quality of one’s home or caretaking facility, but rather on the sentiments of love expressed by the people still in it.
