Martin Scorsese’s The Departed was famously based on Infernal Affairs – the Andy Lau and Tony Leung movie that ‘saved Hong Kong cinema’ Douglas Parkes douglas.parkes@scmp.com From left, Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Andy Lau Tak-wah in the original Infernal Affairs, a high point in Hong Kong cinema of the 21st century. Photo: Media Asia Distribution
It s been 18 years since Andrew Lau Wai-keung and Alan Mak Siu-fai s award-winning police drama Infernal Affairs hit Hong Kong cinema screens. Starring idols Andy Lau Tak-wah and Tony Leung Chiu-wai, the movie examined the tortured lives of a policeman forced to live undercover among the Triads, and a Triad member forced to live a life as a mole in the Hong Kong Police Force.