Lesson Plan
Grades 6-8
Grades 9-10
Grades 11-12

The Mole Agent: Rethinking Old Age Film Clips

Film Clips

CLIP 1, “Man needed. Between 80 and 90 years old.” (00:00 mins – 05:10 mins, Length: 5:10 mins)

This clip starts at 00:00 mins with a montage of shots from the office of private investigator, Rómulo Aitken and ends at 05:10 mins after Rómulo explains the job to Sergio “…if they discover you, that means the job is over.”

The scene opens with a montage of noir images from the detective offices of Rómulo Aitken then shows a close-up of a newspaper ad in Spanish that translates as, “ELDERLY MALE NEEDED. Retired, between 80 and 90 years old. Independent, discrete and competent with technology.” Rómulo begins interviewing older male candidates who share that they were surprised to see an ad looking for older men and since many have been rejected in the past for being “too old”. Rómulo tests their skills with technology – which is limited –then explains investigation and assignment in more detail. He is looking for an older man to be a “mole agent” and infiltrate a local retirement home where his client’s mother lives. The agent will pose as a new resident and monitor the client’s mother over the course of three months to determine if she is being neglected or mistreated. Rómulo chooses Sergio Chamy from the candidates and begins his training.

CLIP 2, “It's like I'm beginning to feel like the person I used to be.” (11:08 mins – 14:28 mins, Length: 3:20 mins)

This clip starts at 11:08 mins. when Rómulo meets with Sergio and his daughter, “Ok, Sergio, Dalal,” and ends at 14:28 mins. with Sergio explaining, “I'm happy with this, and I want you to be happy, too, but at ease. Alright?“

Sergio’s daughter Dalal meets with Rómulo and the film team to discuss the project. She explains that she is worried about the risks associated with the job and also admits that, after having lost her mother a few months before, she is upset about not being able to see her father for such a long period of time. The film’s director, Maite Alberdi, and Rómulo explain the legal and logistic protections that they have arranged for the assignment, but Sergio understands that his daughter’s concerns are also personal. He explains that this assignment has helped him fill his days with new challenges and in the process manage the grief and loneliness that have consumed him since his wife’s death. He says, “This has truly been something mentally liberating to me. Mentally tiring, but liberating at the same time, because it's like I'm beginning to feel like the person I used to be.”

CLIP 3, “I wonder, is this negligence or not?” (20:00 mins – 24:05 mins, Length: 4:05 mins)

This clip starts at 20:00 mins with Sergio saying, “Rómulo, this is the report for today,” and ends at 14:28 mins after Sergio says goodbye to Rubira in the garden.

Sergio dictates his daily report for Rómulo as we watch him engage with the residents and investigate the retirement home. He hasn’t found the client’s mother, Sonia (the Target), yet in part because “all the ladies look the same” to him. He learns that one woman is a poet, and finds out another had a shirt taken by a different resident. A resident named Juana slipped and fell when she left her room and Sergio wonders if that qualifies as negligence on the part of the staff. Juana also lost a small sum of money a while back but she thinks a visitor must have taken it. Finally, Sergio shares the story of Rubira, a soft-spoken woman who is struggling with periods of confusion and memory loss. Rubira’s family brought her to the home when she began to experience dementia and haven’t kept in touch with her. It’s clear that Sergio is moved and disturbed by Rubira’s story and her feeling of abandonment.

CLIP 4, “Marta is very quick at taking things…but it's hard to get angry at her.” (49:27 mins – 52:40 mins, Length: 3:13 mins)

This clip starts at 49:27 mins with Sergio is sitting outside with Marta and Zoila when Marta tells him, “Give me the money” and ends at 52:40 mins with Rómulo responding to Sergio’s revelation that Marta stole the client’s missing necklace, saying, “she's earned the title of thief.”

Rómulo calls Sergio and expresses his frustration that Sergio’s reports are focused more on his experience in the home and the resident’s struggles than on his assignment. He tells Sergio that a robbery took place – something was stolen from “the Target”. Rómulo wants Sergio to focus on finding the thief and report back. Sergio focuses his attention on Marta a resident who is struggling with severe dementia. Marta believes she is a young girl who was left at the home and she is desperately waiting for her mother to come take her home. As Sergio follows her around the residence he sees Marta wandering the grounds collecting “her things” which include other resident’s clothing, food, jewelry, and any small items that are within reach. Sergio investigates Marta’s room and finds a small stash of stolen things including a necklace that looks like the one stolen from Sonia. He sees Marta as a troubled friend and tries to explain to Romulo, “Marta is very quick at taking things and making them disappear, but it's hard to get angry at her.” To Romulo she is no more than a thief, “A rat who sneaks into other people's rooms”.

CLIP 5, “I don't understand the point of doing this investigation. The client should do it herself.” (1:17:00 mins – 1:20:20 mins, Length: 3:20 mins)

This clip starts at 1:17:00 mins with Sergio reporting, “Rómulo, I know you asked for hard facts and not opinions” and ends at 1:20:20 mins with Sergio getting ready to leave the retirement home and Martha telling him, “Maybe my mom will come…”

Sergio records his final report to Romulo. Sergio understands that Romulo wants hard facts but he intends of voicing his opinions anyway. Sergio has come to care about his fellow residents and is saddened by the loneliness and feelings of abandonment they face every day. He is also frustrated with his assignment and Romulo’s client. It’s clear that Sonia requires special care but he doesn’t understand the client’s choices: “I don't understand the point of doing this investigation. The client should do it herself, she's her mother. She should face her own faults. That's why she can't live with herself or visit her mother.” He asks Romulo how soon he can leave. Romulo thanks Sergio for doing an excellent job on the investigation and assures him that he will arrange for him to be discharged. Sergio says a tearful goodbye to his new friends. Marta tells him that she has never had male friends but now she has one.

Sources

About the author:

Allison Milewski

Allison Milewski has developed media education resources for a range of award-winning filmmakers and national media organizations, including PBS LearningMedia, Independent Television Services (ITVS), Latino Public Broadcasting, HBO Documentaries, and Tribeca Film Institute. She is also the founder of the international media education program, PhotoForward.org.

Allison Milewski