‘THE AMBASSADOR’ is the work of Mads Brugger a Danish documentarian setting himself up as an ‘African Diplomat’ and under the pretense of representing Liberia he settles in the Central African Republic ostensibly to expose widespread corruption but at the same time becoming a diamond drug smuggler. This hilarious and completely compelling movie is about being a con-man trying to outplay a whole series of local con-men in this latest ‘Mickey Mouse’ Regime who are now in power in this desperately poor Third World Country. But on reflection there is also a distinct possibility that the filmmaker has set this whole thing up and is actually conning us too. Regardless of who is being taken for a ride it is an immensely funny film that takes aim at the farcical machinations in this African State where no-one is technically bribed but they all expect to be given a bulging ‘envelope of happiness’.
P.S. I met Mads at Sundance when the movie was premiered and he assured me it was all true. Hmmmm. Really Mads?
This has been re-printed from my SUNDANCE 2012 Blog as the movie is now in a few selected theaters now.
★★★★★★★★
Labels: Danish, documentary
