Infernal Affairs or Mou Gaan Dou

“the unceasing path”

One of Hong Kong’s most memorable crime thrillers that made Martin Scorsese lift an eyebrow and decide to make his own Boston version with The Departed, Infernal Affairs has left a cinematic footprint that has yet to be forgotten. With a stellar studded cast that includes the likes of leading powerhouses Andy Lau and Tony Chiu-Wai Leung, Infernal Affairs tells the dubious and enthralling story of a mole and an undercover cop with similar objectives, finding out who’s who.

A classic cat-and-mouse tale set against the backdrop of Hong Kong’s rising skyscrapers, isolated rooftops, and narrow alleyways, this dizzying experience may be a little too unorthodox for Westerners not used to Hong Kong’s cinematic flair but, with patience comes reward and Infernal Affairs’ bounty is plentiful. It relies on its chase between cop and mole to pull the viewer in but also finds surprising depth in its thematic representations and in its language. Not to mention the acting, which, if one must compare, is slightly more nuanced and less, shall I say, explosive than Leonardo DiCaprio’s bombastic turn as the undercover cop.

But, comparisons aside, Infernal Affairs manages to bend your mind with twists and turns, throb your gaze with unnerving suspense and surprise you with deep layers to make you ponder long after the credits roll, this Hong Kong gem ticks off all the boxes necessary for a great crime thriller.