The Movie –
Watch any number of political thrillers or espionage films and you’ve undoubtedly seen more than a few ambassadors portrayed on screen, but when it comes to real life, how much do we really know about these appointed figures who seem to be untouchable? I can imagine at some point, this very same thought went through the head of Danish journalist Mads Brugger. Whatever his motivation, the journalist turned filmmaker turned his investigative eyes and ears toward the connection between ambassadorship to the Central African Republic (CAR) and the lucrative smuggling of blood diamonds out of the country.
The term “blood diamonds” refers to diamonds that have been illegally exported from war-torn countries without authorization. If you’ve seen Edward Zwick’s 2006 film BLOOD DIAMOND, then you may have a sensationalized idea of what goes on in this region of Africa. What Brugger does is to take the viewer into the heart of the CAR first-hand, to witness for themselves what Hollywood can only dramatize for entertainment. Here’s the catch… Mads Brugger is a tall, lanky, pale-skinned, red-haired, white European voluntarily entering into one of the most dangerous regions of Africa, posing as the Liberian ambassador to CAR and a businessman seeking to open a match factory in the country. This, of course, is all 100% false and by doing so puts his life in great peril… all for the purpose of hopefully constructing a documentary that reveals the darker side of the diamond trade and it’s affiliation to European ambassadors.
The $64,000 question: Does Mads pull it off? Let’s break this down into two categories; the entertainment factor and the informational/educational factor. Imagine, if you will, you look like Conan O’Brien shaved bald and you’re in the heart of “blood diamond” territory pretending to be a wealthy businessman seeking ambassadorship. Where do you start? Mads takes the viewer on the jaw-dropping, often awkwardly humorous five-cent tour of this process of enlisting an “agent” to acquire for you a position as ambassador with the necessary paperwork by way of bribes to government officials. Hilarious, right? In fact, it is, but its also incredibly frustrating. The film is entertaining, yes, but more importantly, the film opens the flood gates of exposure to a world we’ve only been able to speculate on, until now.
THE AMBASSADOR is like watching Sacha Baron Cohen’s BRUNO (minus the sexual references) and THE DICTATOR mashed up into one movie that tells a true story. At times, the film is almost difficult to believe, but the remainder of the film is proof unto its own validity. Apparently, some have questioned whether THE AMBASSADOR is staged, but after seeing the film twice now, I’ve concluded for myself that Brugger’s film is sincere. Each viewer will have to make this call on their own, as I cannot expect you to take my word on the matter. Another element of the film viewers may find oddly alluring is the uncanny similarity Brugger’s narration has to the like of Werner Herzog’s documentaries.
How did he do it? Brugger — the businessman — employs a “press photographer” to follow and record his business dealings for the benefit of his investors. This, of course, is actually Johan Stahl Winthereik, his cinematographer. The third member of Brugger’s tiny entourage is a woman he passes off as his executive assistant. For the more volatile scenes requiring creative recording, Brugger’s team uses pinhole cameras hidden in his clothes or in wall fixtures, whatever it takes to capture the kind of audio/video footage that makes this film so damning for those involved. I know that fear can make a person do things previously unfathomable, but how Brugger is able to keep his cool so convincingly throughout the film is amazing. Even the moments when he seems nervous or uncomfortable, he comes off as just another businessman upset about a deal possibly going south. I would love to have Brugger’s constitution.
THE AMBASSADOR will have viewers wondering many things, but at the top of that list is the question, “How can this happen, and how does it continue to happen?” Hopefully, Brugger’s documentary will be the catalyst for change, the tipping point at which progress in the region is made toward peace and an end to corruption inflicted by African leaders and backed by certain European governments.
The Extras –
THE AMBASSADOR blu-ray includes the theatrical trailer for the film, as well as a 16-page booklet. The cherry on top, however, is the audio commentary by director Mads Brugger. In his own words, this is Brugger’s first audio commentary and this shows. His delivery is dry, but highly informative. Once you’ve seen the film, I adamantly express the necessity to re-watch the film — immediately, if possible — with the audio commentary engaged.
This is essential because Brugger gives so much more information than is available through the film on its own. Even the tiniest of details about his experience and the process of making the film offer a deeper insight into the experiment as a whole. I say experiment, because this gonzo-style of journalistic documentary filmmaking has never really been done on this level. While the audio commentary lacks the usual supply of humorous anecdotes, it offers an impeccable supply of first-hand knowledge that adds priceless value to the viewing experience.
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Video Codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video Resolution: 1080p
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Audio: English – Dolby Digital 2.0 (192kbps)
Subtitles: English
- Single 25GB Blu-ray Disc
- Digital copy (as download)
- 16-Page Booklet
Image Entertainment and Drafthouse Films bring THE AMBASSADOR to DVD and Blu-Ray on Tuesday, October 23rd, 2012.
