Overview

"I had four children, leaving all my joy for my old age, but here I am, and there's not that much joy."

Petita Petronila, poet and resident of San Francisco retirement home

“ELDERLY MALE NEEDED. Retired, between 80 and 90 years old. Independent, discrete and competent with technology.”

85-year-old widower, Sergio Chamy, responds to a help wanted ad in his local Chilean newspaper, and is soon swept into a world of spy-craft, intrigue, baffling-technology, and profound--and sometimes heartbreaking--revelations.

“It's like I'm beginning to feel like the person I used to be.” – Sergio Chamy

In Maite Alberdi’s documentary film, The Mole Agent, Sergio is hired from a crowd of octogenarian candidates to infiltrate a local retirement home where private detective, Rómulo Aitken, suspects a client’s mother, Sonia, is being mistreated. Sergio is eager to take on the job of a “mole agent” -- despite his family’s concerns – to help him through the loneliness and grief following his wife’s death and to reconnect with a sense of curiosity and purpose.

During his three-month assignment, Sergio immerses himself in his new role, gaining the trust of his peers, collecting information, and taking meticulous notes that he dictates to Rómulo in (sometimes excessive) detail. As his investigation deepens, however, Sergio struggles to balance his assignment with his compassion for the women and men who have embraced him as a friend and confidant. Sergio finds himself among a community of peers who feel they have been discarded by their loved ones and a society that no longer see them as poets, thinkers, workers, lovers, care-takers, contributors, or complex adults.

“The residents here feel lonely. They aren’t being visited, and some have been abandoned. Loneliness is the worst thing about this place.” – Sergio Chamy

Sergio begins to understand that the real crime he’s uncovering isn’t theft or mistreatment on the part of staff, but the neglect of Sonia and her peers driven by entrenched ageism and ableism that devalues the lives and contributions of older people. Sergio enters the home as the eyes and ears of Rómulo and his client but soon takes on a more challenging role as a witness to and the voice for the experiences of his neglected friends.

Alberdi’s documentary frames Sergio’s journey through a blend of comedy, film noir, and cinema verite that reveals an intimate, charming, and sometimes unsettling look at the lives of people just like Sergio who have more to contribute to a world that insists on dismissing them as “old”.

In this lesson, students will challenge what they think they know about “old age” and understand the impact that ageism has on older people like Sergio and his peers in The Mole Agent. They will examine how perceptions of “old age” and myths about aging contribute to loneliness and diminished health and quality of life for seniors. The lesson will culminate with students demonstrating their knowledge by identifying opportunities for positive social change for seniors and/or identifying and correcting age-related bias in the media.

A Note from Curriculum Creator, Allison Milewski

As we continue to live longer and better, our stereotypes and expectations about aging are rightly challenged. I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with diverse and inspiring communities of learners and educators across age groups but have more than once found myself setting higher goals and provided more challenging programs for students who are 16 than for those who are 60. I’m lucky that my adult students have been willing to call me out and demanded more from me. It’s a jarring to recognize how deeply entrenched my own ageism is despite my increasing proximity to what society would call “old age”.

As an educator, I’m drawn to engage with stories of older adults like Sergio who make us question our biases about age. Sergio’s compassion and perceptiveness demonstrate the value of his lived experience provides far more insight into the lives of the residents than any spy gadgets or modern tech.

Director Maite Alberdi’s documentary, The Mole Agent, beautifully illustrates the need for intergenerational dialogue and revelatory power of storytelling. Through the daily life and intimate stories of Sergio and his fellow residents, Alberdi deftly brings into focus the pervasiveness of ageism and the physical, mental, and emotional toll it takes on those who live long enough to be dismissed as “old”.

A Note to Teachers

This lesson, and the accompanying film, address issues that may be sensitive for some students. I encourage teachers and facilitators to screen the film clips and review all of the related materials in advance of the lesson. Some students may have personal experience with these issues and their perspectives and sensitivities should inform how the lesson is presented. It might also be helpful to connect with a school social worker for resources specific to your school’s guidelines and your students’ needs.

Before the lesson, remind the class that this is a supportive environment and make time to review your classroom’s tools for creating a safe-space, including class agreements. These might include guidelines like “no interrupting,” “listen without judgment,” “use respectful language,” “share to your level of comfort,” “you have the right to pass,” etc. And remind students that when they talk about groups of people, they should be careful to use the word “some,” not “all.”

Visit Teaching Tolerance for excellent resources and strategies for tackling challenging topics in the classroom:

• Teaching Tolerance: Let's Talk! Discussing Race, Racism and Other Difficult Topics with Students: https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/publications/lets-talk
• Social Justice Standards | The Teaching Tolerance Anti-bias Framework: https://www.tolerance.org/professional-development/social-justice-standards-the-teaching-tolerance-antibias-framework

Subject Areas

• Social Studies
• Health & Human Development
• Civil Rights
• Public Policy
• English Language Arts

Grade Levels: 9-12

Objectives:

Students will be able to:

• Identify how age-related bias (Ageism) informs our perception of elders and “old age”
• Explain why the concept of “old age” is difficult to define
• Describe the real-world impact of ageism as depicted in The Mole Agent
• Explain how perceptions of “old age” contribute to loneliness and diminished quality of life for seniors
• Distinguish between facts and myths about aging and later life
• Demonstrate their knowledge of aging and ageism by identifying opportunities for positive social change and/or analyzing how age-related issues are represented in the media

Materials:

• The Mole Agent film clips and equipment on which to show them
• Student Handouts
  • Student Handout A: Film Notes
  • Student Handout B: Facts and Myths about Aging
• Teacher Handouts
  • Teacher Handout A: Film Summary
  • Teacher Handout B: Facts and Myths about Aging
• White board/markers
• Large chart paper (at least 1 sheet for each group of 4-5 students)
• Masking Tape
• Pens and writing paper

Time Needed:

Two 50-minute class periods with homework