Written by Andreas Babiolakis

We are playing catch up by reviewing films that are a part of the current awards season.

I want to like The Mole Agent more than I do. Its concept is so well-intentioned: the titular mole is investigating to see if there are abusive caretakers at a local retirement home towards the elders that live there. You get all of the warmness of the project out of the way: the setting up of the hidden camera, the conversations with the lovely citizens of the home, and more. This is going to be that kind of documentary: no matter how hard-hitting the information is, it’s shown in a wholesome light. Nothing wrong with that. Maite Alberdi has every right to render this film a more tender, sympathetic one, rather than a heavy look at a difficult topic. It’s even somewhat comedic at times, when it isn’t delivering its point.

However, my problem with the film is that it gets stuck in a wheel of monotony, as a result: as if it doesn’t want to step on any toes, and remain the same level of accessible the entire time. At first, the jangly pianos, passive shots and quirky nature felt like a Woody Allen picture, which isn’t the worst vibe to have. However, it kept going, and I felt like I was looking at the problems addressed from afar. Still, this is a documentary, and not one I want to necessarily be in the middle of, given its tricky subject matter, but the way it is shown is just so peculiar (and one-note, too). It’s almost distracting how un-engaging the film is (which is a paradox, I’m sure).

Despite the strong premise, The Mole Agent is a little too safe and of a single note to truly soar. — Despite the strong premise, *The Mole Agent* is a little too safe and of a single note to truly soar.

Besides, it’s the film’s safeness that really gets in the way. It’s too bad, because this is obviously not a documentary I want spiced up by artificialities, biases, or exploitations, but even a strictly naturally-shot film would have maybe served better than this one, that serves up a bit of a vibe and that vibe alone. The stories on screen all mean something, but the spotlight is only figurative. Again, I don’t want to imply that The Mole Agent needed to be “exciting” or dynamic, but you also want your argument and evidence to land. For me, it just didn’t; not cinematically, anyway. I know it has for some, so I hope that it does for you too, especially because it really does mean well and is trying to focus on a real concern.

Andreas Babiolakis has a Masters degree in Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management from Ryerson University, as well as a Bachelors degree in Cinema Studies from York University. His favourite times of year are the Criterion Collection flash sales and the annual Toronto International Film Festival.