THE MOLE
- UNDERCOVER IN NORTH KOREA
RECEPTION
“Even by Mads Brügger's standard, it's an insane story, with characters so colourful that if The Mole had been fiction, you would probably say it was too unrealistic”
“A new documentary with a bizarre cast of characters claims to shed light on North Korea's efforts to evade international sanctions”
- BBC
"As an intelligence operation, this is one of the best I have seen."
- Ola Kaldager, former leader of the Intelligence Service of Norway's group E 14
“Sundance Winner Mads Brügger on North Korea Exposé ‘The Mole,’ Relying on ‘Fool’s Luck”
- VARIETY
“Every boy’s dream is to be James Bond': Inside North Korea with 'Mr James' and 'the Mole'“
The Mole:
Undercover in North Korea / 2020
The series follows Ulrich Larsen, called "the Mole", a former chef living on benefits who spends 10 years infiltrating the Korean Friendship Association (KFA).
He quickly rises through the ranks and gains the trust of KFA leader Alejandro Cao de Benós from Spain. Cao de Benós tells the Mole that he is looking for possible investors that are willing to invest in North Korea, despite sanctions against the country. Brügger decides to inject into the story a "Mr. James" (Jim Latrache-Qvortrup), pretending to be a possible investor.
After a meeting with Cao de Benós about possible sale of drugs and weapons from North Korea, the Mole and Mr. James travel to North Korea, where they sign a contract with North Korea to produce drugs and weapons in another country. Mr. James meets the North Koreans officials again in Uganda, where they discuss buying an island in Lake Victoria to construct an underground drugs and weapons manufactory, under the disguise of establishing a luxury hotel.
CREDITS
Writer & Director
MADS BRÜGGER
Producers
PETER ENGEL
BJARTE MØRNER TVEIT
Edited by
NICOLAS NØRGAARD STAFFOLANI
TORKEL GJØRV
Music by
JOHN ERIK KAADA
Cinematography by
JONAS BERLIN
HEINE KAARSBERG
TORE VOLLAN