INFERNAL AFFAIRS 3

Hong Kong, 2003, 118 minutes, Colour.
Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Andy Lau, Leon Lai, Kelly Chen, Anthony Wong Chau- Sang, Eric Tsang, Edison Chen, Shawn Yue.
Directed by Wai-keung Lau and Alan Mak.

Infernal Affairs 3 is the end of the trilogy. Infernal Affairs 2 (which Martin Scorsese remade as his Oscar-winning film, The Departed) is the story of two young men, both going underground, but one as infiltrating the police, the other as infiltrating the triads. The second film is the prequel, showing the backgrounds of the two young men, their experiences, their training, their going underground. The third film operates on several time levels. The earlier films were set in the 1990s, moving towards the handover from Britain to China of Hong Kong. This film is set in 2002, the aftermath for the two young men.

It also focuses on the death of the young man who infiltrated the triads, Chan. The film moves around in time, investigating Chan’s death. It also gives the opportunity for the triad mole to consolidate himself in the police force – but finally, unmasked.

Tony Wong also appears, but only in a minor role, the influential man who had advised Chan to go into the triads but who himself had compromised his integrity by organising a hit on the head of the triads.

The film shows the police working in Hong Kong after the handover, very little different from the time before. The film also is an interesting psychological study of the disintegration of the mole yet his trying to preserve his position in the police. The admiration is for the dead man who had successfully infiltrated the triads and was able to help the police in their work. Once again, the fat and jovial head of a triad group, Sam, appears and shows that one can outlive all kinds of difficulties in the triads.

1. The third film in the series? Presupposing the others? Its time span immediately following the first film? Hong Kong, the police, the triads, the handing over to Chinese rule from the British?

2. The Hong Kong settings, after the handover, the authorities, the continuity?

3. The vistas of Hong Kong, the feel of the city, outside the city, the cemetery? The musical score?

4. The ironic title of the series, Infernal for internal?

5. The complexity of the structure: the time shifts, the perspectives, the past and the undercover work, of both men? The effect for the police, the effect for the triads? The investigation into Chan’s death?

6. The death of Chan, his place in the first films, audience sympathy for him, deep cover, the effect? His reporting to Inspector Wong? The build-up to his death?

7. The visualising of his death? The scenes in the cemetery? Grief from his friends?

8. The undercover policeman, his office, the files, the parking space, the information, respectable on the surface? The infatuation with Mary – and the complexity of his murder of Mary in the past?

9. The building up of the setup, the confrontation?

10. The investigation, the issue of parking, offices, files, archives? Suspicions?

11. Inspector Wong – his place in the past? His contribution to police work?

12. The reappearance of Sam, continuing his work, the truth about undercover agents?

13. The conclusion of the trilogy – yet the story and the possibilities for it continuing?