THE MOLE AGENT, Chile, 2020 (docudrama). Starring Sergio Chamy, Romulo Aitken, Marta Olivares, Rubira Olivares. Directed by Maite Alberdi. 84 minutes. Rated G (Very mild themes)
Suddenly, in the trailer for The Mole Agent, large letters appear: “The Most Heartwarming Spy Story…”. Spy story? And G-rated?
Here is a story from Chile, but a story that could happen anywhere around the world. Well, not the initial part of the story… We are introduced to an investigator who is conducting auditions for a spy, someone to infiltrate a home for the aged and find out information about how one of the women is being treated. But the surprise is, for the audience, and for the elderly gentleman who respond to the advertisement, the investigator is looking for someone between the ages of 80-90. We are puzzled. They are puzzled. We listen to what is required of them. And we see how they need to have a bit of knowledge of contemporary technology for the reports, and their “deliveries”.
It was a bit surprising to find the man that they chose, Sergio Chamy, was rather quiet and retired, a gentleman, dapper in his way, wearing a suit and tie. He is committed to the home by the investigator and by a surgeon’s daughter. In he goes and begins his espionage.
The audience spends a deal of time in the home along with Sergio, meeting the 40 women and few men that live in. We get to know quite a number of the women – although Sergio has a hard time trying to track down Sonia, the mother of the investigator’s client. He asks people. He looks at the notices on the 40 doors. He also reports that he finds it difficult sometimes to tell one woman from the other – which may be the problem for us in the audience as well, this reviewer not being able to identify Sonia whenever she appeared, seeming to disappear within the group.
Actually, Sergio in his unobtrusive way, is a great hit with the ladies. They find him charming. They enjoy his conversation. One of them even imagines wedding bells. And, at one of the socials, he is chosen to be the king of the celebration, all the ladies wanted to dance with him. Obviously, the tasks of a Mole Agent are not always burdensome.
This is a cheerful home for the aged. The ladies are happy together in the common room, enjoy celebrations, visiting singers, and quite a birthday party for Sergio’s 84th.
He investigates and talks with Sonia, as well as with many of the other ladies. One is something of a kleptomaniac who continually wants to phone her mother and the authorities comfort her on the other end of the phone, another is a poet, while another does not get any visitors but Sergio finds photos of her family to console her. He expresses the opinion that loneliness is the main problem with those who live in the home.
(An aside on pastoral dimensions of home for the aged. This film highlights how wonderful some companionship is, with people listening, sharing, and ensuring people are not left in loneliness. This is Chile, there are lots of Catholic images, prayers, but no sign of Catholic pastoral workers visiting, no sign of a priest, even at a funeral ceremony.)
Madman Films
Released 17 June
Peter Malone MSC is an associate Jesuit Media