Editing Infernal Affairs

{{Short description|2002 Hong Kong film by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak}}
{{Use Hong Kong English|date=January 2025}}
{{distinguish|text=the 1990 American film ''[[Internal Affairs (film)|Internal Affairs]]''}}
{{About|the 2002 film|the series it spawned|Infernal Affairs (film series){{!}}''Infernal Affairs'' (film series)|the Infernal album|Infernal Affairs (album){{!}}''Infernal Affairs'' (album)}}
{{cleanup rewrite|date=August 2020}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = Infernal Affairs
| image          = Infernal_Affairs_(2002_film)_poster.jpg
| alt            = 
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| native_name    = {{Infobox Chinese/Chinese|child=yes|hide=no|header=none
 | t    = {{linktext|無|間|道}}
 | s     = {{linktext|无|间|道}}}}
| director       = {{ubl|[[Andrew Lau]]|[[Alan Mak (director)|Alan Mak]]}}
| producer       = Andrew Lau
| writer         = {{ubl|Alan Mak|[[Felix Chong]]}}
| starring       = {{plainlist|
* [[Andy Lau]]
* [[Tony Leung Chiu-wai|Tony Leung]]
* [[Anthony Wong (Hong Kong actor)|Anthony Wong]]
* [[Eric Tsang]]
* [[Sammi Cheng]]
* [[Kelly Chen]]
* [[Chapman To]]
* [[Gordon Lam]]
}}
| music          = [[Chan Kwong-wing]]
| cinematography = {{ubl|Andrew Lau|[[Lai Yiu-fai]]}}
| editing        = {{ubl|[[Pang brothers|Danny Pang]]|Curran Pang}}
| studio         = {{ubl|[[Media Asia Entertainment Group|Media Asia Films]]|[[Basic Pictures]]}}
| distributor    = [[Media Asia Entertainment Group|Media Asia Distribution]]
| released       = {{Film date|df=y|2002|12|12}}
| runtime        = 101 minutes
| country        = Hong Kong
| language       = Cantonese<br>Mandarin
| budget         = US$6.4 million<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://enjoyreviews.com/reviews/3082496769/ |title=Infernal Affairs vs. The Departed |access-date=29 November 2015 |archive-date=26 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826235349/http://enjoyreviews.com/reviews/3082496769/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| gross          = [[Hong Kong dollar|HK$]]55.1 million
}}
{{Infobox Chinese|t={{linktext|無|間|道}}|s={{linktext|无|间|道}}|l="Unceasing Path"|j= Mou<sup>4</sup> Gaan<sup>3</sup> Dou<sup>6</sup> |p=Wú Jiān Dào}}

'''''Infernal Affairs''''' ({{zh|t={{linktext|無|間|道}}|l="Unceasing Path"}}) is a 2002 Hong Kong [[crime drama film]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.criterionchannel.com/the-infernal-affairs-trilogy|title=The Infernal Affairs Trilogy|website=The Criterion Channel}}</ref> directed by [[Andrew Lau]] and [[Alan Mak (director)|Alan Mak]] from a screenplay written by Mak and [[Felix Chong]]. The film stars [[Andy Lau]], [[Tony Leung Chiu-wai|Tony Leung]], [[Anthony Wong (Hong Kong actor)|Anthony Wong]], [[Eric Tsang]], [[Sammi Cheng]] and [[Kelly Chen]]. The film follows an undercover [[Hong Kong Police Force]] officer who infiltrates a [[Triad (organized crime)|triad]] and another police officer who is secretly a spy for the same triad. The film is the first in the [[Infernal Affairs (film series)|''Infernal Affairs'' series]], followed by ''[[Infernal Affairs II]]'' and ''[[Infernal Affairs III]]'' (both 2003).

At the [[22nd Hong Kong Film Awards]], ''Infernal Affairs'' won seven out of the sixteen awards it was nominated for—including [[Hong Kong Film Award for Best Film|Best Film]], [[Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director|Best Director]], [[Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] (Leung), and [[Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]] (Wong). It also won in those categories at the [[40th Golden Horse Awards]] and 8th [[Golden Bauhinia Awards]]. The film was selected as Hong Kong's entry for the [[Academy Award for Best International Feature Film|Best Foreign Language Film]] at the [[76th Academy Awards]] but was not nominated. [[Miramax Films]] acquired the United States distribution rights and gave it a limited American theatrical release in 2004. 

American director [[Martin Scorsese]] remade the film in 2006 as ''[[The Departed]]'', which won the [[Academy Award for Best Picture]] as well as [[Academy Award for Best Director]], Scorsese's first and only Oscar in his career, and [[Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=19 March 2024 |title=The Academy's Complex Relationship With Martin Scorsese |url=https://nextbestpicture.com/the-academys-complex-relationship-with-martin-scorsese/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/20_facts_you_might_not_know_about_the_departed/s1__37090556#slide_12 |title=20 facts you might not know about 'The Departed'|date=22 August 2024 |author-first1=Chris|author-last1=Morgan|website=Yardbarker}}</ref> The film has also been remade in India as ''[[Homam (film)|Homam]]'' (2008), in South Korea as ''[[City of Damnation]]'' (2009), and in Japan as [[:ja:ダブルフェイス (テレビドラマ)|''Double Face'']] (2012). In 2018, a television series adaptation aired on [[TVB]].

== Plot ==
Hon Sam, a Hong Kong [[Triad (organized crime)|triad]] boss, sends Lau Kin-ming, a young gangster, to the police academy to become his [[Mole (espionage)|mole]] in the [[Hong Kong Police Force]]. Around the same time, cadet Chan Wing-yan is ostensibly expelled from the police academy, but is actually selected to be an undercover cop reporting only to [[Superintendent (police)|Superintendent]] Wong Chi-shing, who sends him to infiltrate Hon's triad. Over the next ten years, Chan is under great stress due to his questionable actions working undercover. Meanwhile, Lau quickly rises through the ranks, becoming a [[Senior Inspector]]. 

After successfully infiltrating the triad, Chan informs Wong of a transaction between Hon and some Thai cocaine dealers, which Wong's team interrupts. However, Lau alerts Hon, giving him enough time to get his henchmen to dispose of the evidence. After this incident, Wong and Hon realise they each have a spy within their own organisations, and race each other to uncover the moles. By this time, both Chan and Lau are struggling with their double lives. Chan is afraid he is turning into an actual criminal while also fearing his cover will be blown; he begins undergoing sessions with psychiatrist Lee Sum-yee and jokingly tells her that he is a cop. Meanwhile, Lau appreciates his life as a respected police officer and wants to sever his ties with the triad.

Lau is tasked by Hon to identify the cop who infiltrated the triad; coincidentally, he is also assigned by the HKPF to lead the mission to uncover the triad's mole within their ranks. He uses his new role to have Wong surveilled, hoping to catch him meeting his mole. Wong meets Chan on a rooftop to discuss Hon's next drug shipment as well as Chan's fear of being uncovered. Hon learns about Wong's location from Lau and sends his henchmen to confront them. Chan escapes from the building while Wong tries to distract the gangsters but ends up being thrown off the roof to his death. Just then, the police show up and a shootout ensues. Henchman Keung, unaware that Chan is the mole, chauffeurs him away from the scene but succumbs to a gunshot wound he sustained earlier. When the news reports that Keung was apparently an undercover cop, Hon assumes he was the mole. Using Wong's phone, Lau contacts Chan and convinces him to collaborate in taking Hon down. The police successfully foils Hon's subsequent drug deal and arrests his henchmen. Lau then betrays Hon and kills him.

Everything seems to have fallen into place—Chan can revert to his true identity as a cop while Lau has erased his criminal connections. At police headquarters, Chan and Lau meet for the first time. As Lau prepares to reinstate Chan into the police force, Chan deduces that Lau was the mole and leaves promptly. Realising what had happened, Lau takes possession of Chan's police [[identity document|identity file]] to use as leverage to dissuade Chan from exposing him. Chan meets with Lee, the only person left whom he can trust, and convinces her that he truly is a cop. Chan then sends a CD to Lau's address containing a recording of Lau's earlier meeting with Hon. Lau's fiancée, Mary, inadvertently listens to the CD and discovers Lau's secret. Chan arranges to meet with Lau on the same rooftop where Wong was killed. There, he disarms Lau and points a pistol to his head. Lau states calmly that he wants to start over as a good person, but Chan rejects his plea to help him conceal his criminal past. [[Inspector]] "Big B" arrives and points his gun at Chan, ordering him to release Lau. Chan holds Lau hostage at gunpoint and backs into a lift, but is shot in the head by Big B. Big B then reveals to Lau that he is also a mole planted by Hon, and assures Lau of his loyalty. When they ride the lift down to the ground floor, Lau kills Big B. 

Six months later, Lee discovers records of Chan's identity as an undercover cop and he is buried with honours beside Wong. Lau salutes Chan at his funeral. Meanwhile, the [[Internal affairs (law enforcement)|internal affairs]] case is closed after they conclude that Big B was the mole in the police force. A flashback shows the day that Chan was ostensibly expelled from the police academy, with Lau looking back with guilt and wishing he was the one expelled instead.

===Alternate ending===
An alternate ending for the film was shot in order to comply with Article 25 (7) of the Chinese Film Administration Regulations specifying that films cannot propagate obscenity, gambling or violence, or abet to commit crimes.<ref>S. Xu (2017) "The Curious Case of Chinese Film Censorship: an Analysis of the Film Administration Regulations". School of Journalism and Communication and the Graduate School of the University of Oregon. 32-44.</ref> In the original Hong Kong ending, Lau concealed his true identity as a triad spy and identified himself as a police officer to avoid punishment. Therefore, the original ending was deemed to promote criminal activity and injustice, and an alternate ending was filmed to make the film suitable for mainland China. In the alternate ending, Inspector Cheung discovers evidence of Lau's criminal activity and immediately arrests him when he gets off the lift. This alternate ending was shown in mainland China and Malaysia.<ref name="doi.org">H. Y. F. Choy (2007) "Schizophrenic Hong Kong: Postcolonial Identity Crisis in the Infernal Affairs Trilogy". Transtext(e)s Transcultures. 3: 52–66. https://doi.org/10.4000/transtexts.138</ref>

==Cast==
* [[Andy Lau]] as Senior Inspector Lau Kin-ming ({{lang|yue-HK|劉健明}}), Hon's mole in the Hong Kong Police Force.
** [[Edison Chen]] as young Lau Kin-ming
* [[Tony Leung Chiu-wai|Tony Leung]] as Chan Wing-yan ({{lang|yue-HK|陳永仁}}), an undercover cop in Hon's triad.
** [[Shawn Yue]] as young Chan Wing-yan
* [[Anthony Wong (Hong Kong actor)|Anthony Wong]] as Superintendent Wong Chi-shing ({{lang|yue-HK|黃志誠}}), Chan's superior.
* [[Eric Tsang]] as Hon Sam ({{lang|yue-HK|韓琛}}), the triad boss.
* [[Chapman To]] as "Silly" Keung ({{lang|yue-HK|傻強}}), Hon's henchman.
* [[Gordon Lam]] as Inspector B (大B; Big B), Lau's subordinate who is also a mole in the HKPF.
* [[Sammi Cheng]] as Mary, Lau's fiancée.
* [[Kelly Chen]] as Lee Sum-yee ({{lang|yue-HK|李心兒}}), Chan's psychiatrist.
* [[Berg Ng]] as Senior Inspector Cheung ({{lang|yue-HK|張Sir}}), Wong's subordinate.
* [[Wan Chi Keung|Wan Chi-keung]] as Officer Leung ({{lang|yue-HK|梁Sir}}), the Chief Superintendent of the Internal Affairs department.
* [[Dion Lam]] as Del Piero ({{lang|yue-HK|迪路}}), Hon's henchman.
* [[Elva Hsiao]] as May, Chan's ex-girlfriend.
* Hui Kam-fung as Officer Yip ({{lang|yue-HK|葉Sir}}), Chan's cadet school principal

==Production==
===Writing===
Writer [[Alan Mak (director)|Alan Mak]] had long wanted to write a story about police and gangsters. The script of ''Infernal Affairs'' was inspired by [[John Woo]]'s ''[[Face/Off]]'' (1997) but Mak knew that its science fiction elements were too implausible in reality, so he focused on the exchange of identity and psychology between the two leads<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=《无间道》借鉴于吴宇森的《变脸》|url=https://k.sina.cn/article_2849066081_pa9d14c6102700ryt5.html?from=ent&subch=oent|access-date=2021-12-27|website=k.sina.cn}}</ref> as its themes. In the process of Mak's creation, his good friend [[Felix Chong]] also encouraged and supported him. The script, written by Mak and revised by Chong, took three years to complete.<ref>{{Cite web|title=《无间道》之父麦兆辉：这剧本我写了3年，找了很多人都不愿意拍_腾讯新闻|url=https://new.qq.com/rain/a/20200417A0M9FU00|access-date=2021-12-27|website=new.qq.com}}</ref>

The dialogue in the famous rooftop showdown was created on the spot by Felix Chong and Tony Leung, with Chong playing Andy Lau's part. The script originally included a typical shootout in the third act, but Leung insisted on turning it into a dialogue scene.

[[Gordon Lam]] did not receive the full script and did not know his character was also a triad mole until the final scene.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=刘德华谈《无间道》：我不知道全部剧本，林家栋以为自己是警察！|url=https://new.qq.com/omn/20190711/20190711A0T7RH00.html?pc|access-date=2021-12-27|website=new.qq.com}}</ref>

===Investment===
The script for ''Infernal Affairs'' originally belonged to Andy Lau's [[Teamwork Motion Pictures]], but due to the company's entanglement in a lawsuit at the time, it was unable to produce the film.<ref>{{Cite web|title=《无间道》背后的故事，现在的刘德华有多红，当时的他就有多艰难_电影|url=https://www.sohu.com/a/www.sohu.com/a/392451223_120016331|access-date=2021-12-27|website=www.sohu.com|language=en}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In addition, the creative team could not find investors because other studios at the time thought that an undercover film wasn't novel enough to make money. Eventually, [[Andrew Lau]] made a hopeless bid and showed the script to [[John Chong]] at [[Media Asia Entertainment Group]]. To his surprise Chong and company chairman [[Peter Lam]] saw potential in the story. Lam proceeded to invest HK $20 million in the film, under the condition that Andy Lau will star the film.

==Themes==
===Postcolonial identity crisis in Hong Kong===
In ''Infernal Affairs'', the [[identity crisis]] suffered by both Chan and Lau as moles hint at the struggle of Hong Kong residents, who faced both the [[British Hong Kong|colonization by the British]] and the [[Handover of Hong Kong|reunification with Mainland China]]. Specifically, under [[Deng Xiaoping]]'s [[one country, two systems]] policy, the duplicity, unsettling, and uncertain nature of the future of Hong Kong residents is tightly echoed in Chan and Lau's character developments. Scholar Howard Y. F. Choy further claimed that "this postcolonial (re)turn is actually more a recolonization than a decolonization of the capitalist Cantonese city by the mainland Mandarin master."<ref name="doi.org"/> The 2003 prequel, ''[[Infernal Affairs II]]'', features the Hong Kong handover much more directly in the main plot.

Director Andrew Lau himself has asserted that the movie is "quite political", but rather by portraying the handover at all, as well as a society with a corrupt police force and inescapable triad presence, as such depictions "would cause a lot of controversy in China."<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Scott |date=October 6, 2006 |title=Andrew Lau Wai-Keung {{!}} HK-magazine.com |url=https://www.scmp.com/topics/hk-magazine-archive/feature/andrew-lau-wai-keung |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090715235918/http://hk-magazine.com/feature/andrew-lau-wai-keung |archive-date=July 15, 2009}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Rao |first=Anjali |date=May 29, 2007 |title=Andrew Lau Interview on Talk Asia |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/05/27/talkasia.andrewlau.script/ |website=CNN}}</ref>

Lau has claimed that while growing up in Hong Kong, he was told by his parents that "''a good guy cannot be a policeman''" and reflected on his identity at the time by adding "''As a child and in high school I didn’t like Hong Kong because it was a British colony. The British people controlled the Chinese people. That was my feeling. At that moment, I was thinking, “No matter what, you’re Chinese.”''"<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Vélez |first=Diva |date=July 20, 2013 |title=NYAFF 2013 Interview: Andrew Lau On The State Of HK Cinema Today |url=https://screenanarchy.com/2013/07/nyaff-2013-interview-andrew-lau.html |website=Screen Anarchy}}</ref>

Further, when comparing the process of filmmaking in Hong Kong during the "golden age" to filmmaking in mainland China, Lau stated: "''you had to face a lot of political things [...], corruption [in the mainland]. But Chinese people now recognize, oh, this is filmmaking and they are quite helpful.''" Lau also showed willingness to focus primarily on mainland China moving forward, saying "''we have to think China first, because China's market is really big. So we must bear in mind that your script can pass the censor of the China Film Association so we can shoot and release in China.''"<ref name=":2" />

He later went on to direct ''[[The Founding of an Army]] (2017)'', the third installment in a series portraying the founding myths of the People's Republic of China (the first installment, ''[[The Founding of a Republic]] (2009)'', had also featured ''Infernal Affairs'' star [[Andy Lau]]), funded by the [[Publicity Department of the Chinese Communist Party|Central Propaganda Department]].

===Buddhism===
''Infernal Affairs'' opens with [[Buddhist]] classic [[Nirvana Sutra]] Verse Nineteen, stating that "The worst of the Eight Hells is called Continuous Hell. It has the meaning of Continuous Suffering. Thus the name." The film also closes with another quote from [[Buddha]], stating that "He who is in Continuous Hell never dies. Longevity is a big hardship in Continuous Hell." In Buddhism, Continuous Hell is also termed The [[Avici]], where one can never reincarnate nor be relieved from guilt and suffering. This concept of timeless, placeless, and endless suffering especially applies to the character Lau throughout the trilogy, who infinitely bears the burden of self-betrayal (serves as a mole), loss of family and friendship, and unsettledness.<ref name="doi.org"/>

==Reception==
===Box office===
Upon its premiere in Hong Kong, ''Infernal Affairs'' grossed $160,356 during the opening day (16–19 January). In total, the film grossed $7,035,649 during its run in Hong Kong theatres.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl2170258945/weekend/.htm | title=Infernal Affairs (2004) – Infernal Affairs (2004) – Box Office Mojo | website=www.boxofficemojo.com | language=en | access-date=2018-03-29}}</ref> The film was then released across Asia, where it grossed a further $169,659 from theatre receipts. In 2016, South Korean theaters re-released the film, which went on to gross $128,026 across three weeks. The total lifetime gross of the film in Korea is $977,903.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl2170258945/weekend/.htm | title=Infernal Affairs (2004) – Box Office Mojo | website=Box Office Mojo | language=en | access-date=2018-03-29}}</ref>

In total, worldwide, the film grossed $8,836,958 across release in both domestic markets and European theatres which displayed the film.

===Critical response===
On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], ''Infernal Affairs'' has an approval rating of 94% based on reviews from 64 critics, with an average rating of 7.50/10. The consensus from the site reads as "Smart and engrossing, this is one of Hong Kong's better cop thrillers."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/infernal_affairs |title=Infernal Affairs |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=2022-03-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102104943/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/infernal_affairs |archive-date=2021-11-02 |url-status=live}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a score of 75 out of 100 based on reviews from 19 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". It was ranked as the 62nd Best Movie of 2004, 86th Most Discussed Movie of 2004, and the 95th Most Shared Movie of 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/infernal-affairs |title=Infernal Affairs Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=2022-03-27}}</ref>

Film critic [[Roger Ebert]] gave the film a three-out-of-four star rating and described ''Infernal Affairs'' as offering "rare emotional depth." In his words, "The movie pays off in a kind of emotional complexity rarely seen in crime movies. I cannot reveal what happens but will urge you to consider the thoughts of two men who finally confront their own real identities—in the person of the other character."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/infernal-affairs-2004.htm|title=Infernal Affairs Review|website=[[Roger Ebert]] |access-date=2021-06-10}}</ref> ''[[New York Times]]'' reviewer Elvis Mitchell was so enraptured with the film that he stated that "''Infernal Affairs'' is so beautifully shot that the images occasionally distract you from the condensed policier plot."<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Mitchell|first1=Elvis|title=Infernal Affairs Review|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/24/movies/loyalty-and-betrayal-with-detectives-caught-in-a-web.html |newspaper=[[New York Times]] |date=24 September 2004 |access-date=2021-06-10}}</ref>

===Accolades===
''Infernal Affairs'' played an integral role in [[Andrew Lau]]'s breakout films in entering the 21st century. Being the most critically acclaimed film of his to date, it was ranked No. 30 in ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]'''s "The 100 Best Films of World Cinema" in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/100-greatest-world-cinema-films/ |title=The 100 Best Films Of World Cinema |date=23 September 2019 |website=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] |access-date=16 November 2024}}</ref>

''Infernal Affairs'' gained significant traction during its festival run as it was nominated for sixteen awards during the [[22nd Hong Kong Film Awards]], winning seven of those categories. It also won the Best Picture at the [[40th Golden Horse Awards]], the 8th [[Golden Bauhinia Awards]], and the Best Foreign Language Film at the 46th [[Blue Ribbon Awards]].

Eventually, ''Infernal Affairs'' would spark the creation of two more films, with ''[[Infernal Affairs II]]'' getting 11 nominations and ''[[Infernal Affairs III]]'' getting 7 nominations during the [[23rd Hong Kong Film Awards]], with ''Infernal Affairs II'' winning Best Original Film Song.

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:small"
|- style="text-align:center;"
! colspan=4 style="background:#B0C4DE;" | List of Accolades
|- style="text-align:center;"
!  style="background:#ccc; width:28%;"| Award / Film Festival
!  style="background:#ccc; width:26%;"| Category
!  style="background:#ccc; width:36%;"| Recipient(s)
!  style="background:#ccc; width:10%;"| Result
|- style="border-top:2px solid gray;"
|-
||Udine Far East Film Festival
|Audience Award
|Andrew Lau<br>Alan Mak
|{{won}}
|-
||[[Asia Pacific Film Festival]]
|Best Sound
|Kinson Tsang
|{{won}}
|-
||46th [[Blue Ribbon Awards]]
|Best Foreign Language Film
|Andrew Lau<br>Alan Mak
|{{won}}
|-
||[[Belgian Syndicate of Cinema Critics]]
|[[Grand Prix (Belgian Syndicate of Cinema Critics)|Grand Prix]]
|
|{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan="13"|40th [[Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards|Golden Horse Awards]]
|Best Picture
|
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Director
|Andrew Lau<br>Alan Mak
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Actor
|Tony Leung
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Supporting Actor
|Anthony Wong
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Sound Effects
|Kinson Tsang King-Cheung
|{{won}}
|-
|Viewer's Choice Award
|
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Actor
|Andy Lau
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Original Screenplay
|Alan Mak<br> Felix Chong
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Film Editing
|Danny Pang<br> Pang Ching-Hei
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Cinematography
|Andrew Lau<br> Lai Yiu-Fai
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Art Direction
|Choo Sung Pong<br> Wong Ching-Ching
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Action Choreography
|Dion Lam Dik-On
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Visual Effects
|Christopher Doyle
|{{nom}}
|-
|rowspan="6"|8th [[Golden Bauhinia Awards]]
|Best Picture
|
|{{Won}}
|-
|Best Director
|Andrew Lau<br> Alan Mak
|{{Won}}
|-
|Best Actor
|Tony Leung
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Actor
|Andy Lau
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Supporting Actor
|Anthony Wong
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Original Screenplay
|Alan Mak<br> Felix Chong
|{{won}}
|-
|rowspan="2"|9th [[Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards]]
|Film of Merit
|
|{{won}}
|-
|Best Actor
|Anthony Wong
|{{won}}
|-
|rowspan="16"|[[22nd Hong Kong Film Awards]]
|[[Hong Kong Film Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
|
|{{Won}}
|-
|[[Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
|[[Andrew Lau]]<br> [[Alan Mak (director)|Alan Mak]]
|{{Won}}
|-
|Hong Kong Film Award for Best Screenplay|Best Screenplay
|Alan Mak <br>[[Felix Chong]]
|{{Won}}
|-
|[[Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
|[[Tony Leung Chiu-Wai|Tony Leung]]
|{{Won}}
|-
|[[Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
|[[Andy Lau]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
|[[Anthony Wong Chau Sang|Anthony Wong]]
|{{Won}}
|-
|[[Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
|[[Eric Tsang]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
|[[Chapman To]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Hong Kong Film Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]]
|Andrew Lau<br> Lai Yiu-Fai
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Film Editing
|[[Danny Pang Phat|Danny Pang]] <br>Pang Ching Hei
|{{Won}}
|-
|Best Costume Design
|Lee Pik-Kwan
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Hong Kong Film Award for Best Action Choreography|Best Action Choreography]]
|[[Dion Lam]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Original Film Score
|[[Chan Kwong Wing]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Original Film Song
|Song: "Infernal Affairs" 
Composer: Ronald Ng <br>Lyrics: [[Albert Leung]]<br>Sung by: Tony Leung, Andy Lau
|{{Won}}
|-
|Best Sound Design
|Kinson Tsang King-Cheung
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Visual Effects
|[[Christopher Doyle]]
|{{nom}}
|}

== Legacy ==

===Sequels and adaptations===
With star power, visual allure, and an engaging script, ''Infernal Affairs'' did very well critically and financially, spawned two sequels and a television series, and attracted the attention of [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Marchetti |first=Gina |editor-last=Louie |editor-first=Kam |title=Hong Kong Culture: Word and Image |publisher=Hong Kong University Press |date=2010 |pages=147–169 |chapter=Chapter 9: Departing from The Departed: The Infernal Affairs Trilogy |jstor=j.ctt1xcrv0 |isbn=978-988-220-613-7 |url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1xcrv0}}</ref>
In 2003, [[Brad Pitt]]'s [[production company]] [[Plan B Entertainment]] acquired the rights for a Hollywood remake, named ''[[The Departed]]'', which was directed by [[Martin Scorsese]], written by [[William Monahan]], starred [[Leonardo DiCaprio]], [[Matt Damon]], [[Jack Nicholson]], [[Mark Wahlberg]], [[Martin Sheen]], [[Ray Winstone]], [[Vera Farmiga]], and [[Alec Baldwin]], set in [[Boston]], Massachusetts, and roughly based on the life of famed Boston mobster [[James "Whitey" Bulger]]. ''The Departed'' was released on 6 October 2006 by [[Warner Bros. Pictures]] and won four [[Academy Awards]], including [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]], [[Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]] for Monahan, and [[Academy Award for Best Director|Best Director]] for Scorsese. Andrew Lau, the co-director of ''Infernal Affairs'', who was interviewed by Hong Kong newspaper ''[[Apple Daily]]'', said: "Of course I think the version I made is better, but the Hollywood version is pretty good too. [Scorsese] made the Hollywood version more attuned to American culture."<ref>{{cite news |date=10 October 2006 |title=My Infernal Affairs is better than Scorsese's says Lau |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2006/oct/10/news1 |access-date=10 October 2006 |work=The Guardian |location=London}}</ref> Andy Lau, one of the main actors in ''Infernal Affairs'', when asked how the movie compares to the original, said: "''The Departed'' was too long and it felt as if Hollywood had combined all three ''Infernal Affairs'' movies together." Lau pointed out that the remake featured some of the "golden quotes" of the original but did have much more swearing. He ultimately rated ''The Departed'' 8/10 and said that the Hollywood remake is worth a view, though according to Lau's spokeswoman Alice Tam, he felt that the combination of the two female characters into one in ''The Departed'' was not as good as the original storyline.<ref>{{cite web |date=6 October 2006 |title=Andy Lau comments on The Departed (Chinese) |url=http://hk.news.yahoo.com/061005/60/1u6o2.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061216120725/http://hk.news.yahoo.com/061005/60/1u6o2.html |archive-date=16 December 2006 |access-date=6 October 2006}}</ref>

Media Asia released a limited edition of eight-DVD set of the ''Infernal Affairs'' trilogy in an Ultimate Collectible Boxset ({{lang|yue-HK|無間道終極珍藏DVD系列(8DVD套裝)}}) on 20 December 2004. Features included an online game and two Chinese novelisations of the film series by Lee Muk-Tung ({{lang|yue-HK|李牧童}}), titled 無間道I+II小說 and 無間道III終極無間小說.

In 2009, a Korean remake ''[[City of Damnation]]'', which was directed by [[Kim Dong-won (director, born 1962)|Kim Dong-won]] was released on 22 January 2009. In 2009, a [[Telugu cinema|Telugu]] remake ''[[Homam (film)|Homam]]'', which directed and acted by JD Chakravarthy along with Jagapathi Babu was released and became a notable movie.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.news18.com/news/movies/hong-kong-classic-infernal-affairs-set-for-an-indian-remake-1527873.html|title=Hong Kong Classic Infernal Affairs Set For an Indian Remake|work=News18|access-date=2018-03-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2017/09/warner-bros-india-infernal-affairs-remake-azure-entertainment-the-departed-1202176158/|title=Warner Bros India Preps 'Infernal Affairs' Remake With Azure Entertainment|last=Tartaglione|first=Nancy|date=2017-09-25|work=Deadline|access-date=2018-03-29|language=en-US}}</ref> In 2012, ''Double Face'' ([[:ja:ダブルフェイス (テレビドラマ)|ダブルフェイス]]), a Japanese television remake starring [[Hidetoshi Nishijima (actor)|Hidetoshi Nishijima]] was released by [[Tokyo Broadcasting System Television|TBS]] and [[WOWOW]].<ref>[http://www.tbs.co.jp/double-face2012/intro/ ダブルフェイス・イントロダクション] (TBS Introduction to ''Double Face''). Retrieved 20 September 2012. {{in lang|ja}}</ref> The production aired in two parts: "Police Impersonation" on WOWOW and "Undercover" on TBS.

A TV series remake debuted in 2018 produced by Media Asia and former TVB producer Tommy Leung. The series, which is titled ''Infernal Affairs'' like the film, stars [[Gallen Lo]], [[Damian Lau]], [[Paul Chun]], [[Lo Hoi-pang]], [[Eric Tsang]], [[Derek Kok]], [[Dominic Lam]], [[Toby Leung]] and [[Yuen Biao]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.starhub.com/personal/how-to/4-reasons-to-watch-infernal-affairs-tv-series.html|title=4 Reasons to Watch Internal Affairs (TV Series) &#124; StarHub Singapore|access-date=8 October 2018|archive-date=5 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005154811/https://www.starhub.com/personal/how-to/4-reasons-to-watch-infernal-affairs-tv-series.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The story takes place years after the films' events, with some minor characters reprising their roles alongside a new cast. The TV series uses the same concept as the film, but with an entirely new story and characters, and the setting expanded beyond Hong Kong to include Thailand and [[Shenzhen]]. It stretched through three seasons with each season consisting of 12 episodes.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Loong|first1=Wai Ting|title=TV version of Infernal Affairs|url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/2017/01/204033/tv-version-infernal-affairs|date=2017|access-date=2018-03-29}}</ref>

Hindi remake is going to be a joint development between Warner Bros. India and Mumbai – based banner Azure and is set for a remake for a two-picture deal<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bhushan|first1=Nyay|title=Hong Kong Cult Movie 'Infernal Affairs' to Get Indian Remake|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/hong-kong-cult-movie-infernal-affairs-get-indian-remake-1042665/.article|access-date=12 June 2021|date=2017}}</ref>

===In popular culture===
Lau, Tsang, and [[Jacky Cheung]] parodied the cinema scene to promote the [[Hong Kong Film Awards]]. Lau and Tsang, in their respective characters, go through the scene where they meet to gather info on the undercover cop amongst Hon Sam's gang. Lau Kin-ming asks Hon, "Why do we always meet in a cinema?", to which Hon answers, "It's quiet. No one comes to movies". Cheung comes out from the shadows behind them and says, "I don't know...quite a few people watch movies" and we see a slew of Hong Kong celebrities watching various clips of Hong Kong films on the screen. Originally Tony Leung was going to appear but scheduling conflicts led to the recasting.

The 2003 [[Television Broadcasts Limited|TVB]] spoof celebrating the [[Chinese New Year]] called ''Mo Ba To'' ({{lang|yue-HK|吐氣羊眉賀新春之無霸道}}), the 2004 comedy film ''[[Love Is a Many Stupid Thing]]'' by [[Wong Jing]], and the 2004 TVB television drama ''[[Shades of Truth]]'' were re-writings based on the plot of the film.

In Taiwan SHODA ({{lang|zh-TW|劉裕銘}}) and a secondary school student Blanka ({{lang|zh-TW|布蘭卡}}) cut and rearranged the original film and inserted new sound tracks to produce their videos ''Infernal Affairs CD pro2'' and ''Infernal Affairs iPod'' on the web. The videos had many views and both producers removed their videos after receiving [[cease and desist]] letters from the Group Power Workshop Limited ({{lang|zh-TW|群體工作室}}), the Taiwan distributor of the film.<ref>陳俍任：電影「無間道」搞怪版始作俑者「CD-PRO2版」作者，接獲在台發行商的警告信，《聯合報》。2004-06-06</ref>

The hi-fi shop scene was later recreated with additions of excerpts of the film to encourage businesses to join the [[Hong Kong Tourism Board|Quality Tourism Services Scheme]] in Hong Kong.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/interactive/video/index.jhtml | title = DiscoverHongKong&nbsp;– Interactive Gallery&nbsp;– Video Clips&nbsp;– Index | access-date =5 July 2009 | publisher = Discoverhongkong.com |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080728200840/http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/interactive/video/index.jhtml |archive-date = 28 July 2008}}</ref>

The success of the film inspired many genres, including an open-world video game from [[United Front Games]] titled ''[[Sleeping Dogs (video game)|Sleeping Dogs]]'' (or ''True Crime: Hong Kong'' before being canceled by [[Activision Blizzard]] in 2011),<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/14/arts/video-games/sleeping-dogs-by-united-front-games.html Sleeping Dogs, by United Front Games – The New York Times<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> with the protagonist of the story infiltrating the criminal underworld as an undercover cop.

== Remaster ==
A [[4K resolution|4K]] remaster of the ''Infernal Affairs'' trilogy was released on 12 December 2022, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of ''Infernal Affairs''.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}}

==Music and soundtrack==
The original film score for ''Infernal Affairs'' was written and performed by [[Chan Kwong-wing]].
{{Track listing
| headline     = Track listing
| extra_column = Artist(s)
| title1       = Entering The Inferno
| length1      = 2:06
| extra1       = Chan Kwong-wing
| title2       = If I Were Him
| length2      = 1:36
| extra2       = Chan Kwong-wing
| title3       = Goodbye Master
| length3      = 2:18
| extra3       = Chan Kwong-wing
| title4       = Who Are You?
| length4      = 2:44
| extra4       = Chan Kwong-wing
| title5       = Let Me Quit
| length5      = 1:32
| extra5       = Chan Kwong-wing
| title6       = I Dreamt About You
| length6      = 1:23
| extra6       = Chan Kwong-wing
| title7       = Salute
| length7      = 1:56
| extra7       = Chan Kwong-wing
| title8       = Mission Abort
| length8      = 4:31
| extra8       = Chan Kwong-wing
| title9       = I Am A Cop!
| length9      = 3:26
| extra9       = Chan Kwong-wing
| title10      = You Are The Only One
| length10     = 1:06
| extra10      = Chan Kwong-wing
| title11      = I Want To Be A Good Guy
| length11     = 3:30
| extra11      = Chan Kwong-wing
| title12      = Goodbye Master, Goodbye
| length12     = 1:56
| extra12      = Chan Kwong-wing
| title13      = The Inferno
| length13     = 1:51
| extra13      = Chan Kwong-wing
}}

The theme song, ''Infernal Affairs'' ({{lang|yue-HK|無間道}}), was composed by Ronald Ng, lyrics provided by [[Albert Leung]], and performed in Cantonese and Mandarin by Andy Lau and Tony Leung.

Although not included in the soundtrack album, [[Tsai Chin (singer)|Tsai Chin]]'s song "Forgotten Times" ({{lang|yue-HK|被遺忘的時光}}) features prominently in this film as a recurring element of its storyline, and also in its sequels.

==See also==
{{Portal|Hong Kong|Film}}
* [[Infernal Affairs (film series)|''Infernal Affairs'' film series]]
* [[Cinema of Hong Kong]]
* [[List of Hong Kong films]]
* [[Andy Lau filmography]]
* [[List of films featuring surveillance]]
* [[List of films set in Hong Kong]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0338564}}
* {{mojo title|infernalaffairs}}
* {{rotten-tomatoes|infernal_affairs}}
* {{Metacritic film}}

{{Infernal Affairs}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Internal Affairs}}
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