Infernal Affairs

Infernal Affairs follows two men living double lives on opposite sides of the law. Chan Wing Yan is a fresh police recruit who goes undercover within a brutal crime syndicate. Lau Kin Ming is a young gangster who infiltrates the police, gaining their confidence. Years pass and both sides climb the ranks, blurring loyalties and intensifying the danger. When seasoned officers discover a mole has embedded itself in their ranks, they race to expose the traitor, setting off a tense cat and mouse chase that tests their courage and judgment without revealing where the truth will land.

Released in 2002 in Hong Kong, Infernal Affairs was directed by Alan Mak and Andrew Lau and based on an original screenplay by Mak and Felix Chong.

The film reshaped Hong Kong crime cinema with its crisp cat and mouse dynamic and two standout performances. It helped spark global interest in Hong Kong thrillers and inspired Martin Scorsese to adapt it into The Departed, reinforcing the power of undercover plots worldwide.

Critics praised the film for its dense plotting and the magnetic performances of Lau and Leung. Themes of identity, loyalty, and corruption under pressure emerge as the story probes what people will do to survive in a world where trust is scarce.