Infernal Affairs III
Encyclopedia
Infernal Affairs III is a 2003
Hong Kong
crime
thriller film directed by Andrew Lau
and Alan Mak
. It is the third installment in the Infernal Affairs
film series, and is both a sequel
and a semi-prequel
to the original film, as it intercuts events before and after the events in the first film. Andy Lau
, Tony Leung, Kelly Chen
, Anthony Wong, Eric Tsang
, and Chapman To
reprise their roles again, joined by new cast members Leon Lai
and Chen Daoming
.
Concurrently, Chan is prosecuted by the police for violent behaviour. His superior, Superintendent Wong Chi-shing, persuades the court to allow Chan to see a psychologist instead of serving jail. Chan meets Dr. Lee Sum-yee regularly for psychological therapy. Hon asks Chan to deliver arms to Shen but he and other triad members do not turn up. When Chan delivers the cargo, Shen's men discover that the boxes are empty, and they open fire at Chan. Shen and Chan shoot each other in the limbs during the crossfire. Shen finds out that Chan is an undercover cop when Yeung unexpectedly arrives on the scene. Yeung tells Chan that Shen is actually also an undercover cop from the Mainland. Yeung also tells Chan that he gained top honours when he was in the police academy due to Chan's "expulsion". The three shake hands and wait for the mayhem to subside before returning to their bases.
Meanwhile, Lau suffers from an identity collapse as he loses track of reality, wrestling with guilt over Chan's murder, and an impending divorce with his wife, Mary. His psychological trauma deteriorates to the point where he begins to see himself as Chan. As "Chan", Lau makes it a personal mission to apprehend Yeung, whom he sees as his former "triad mole" self. After witnessing an incident where Lau suffers a hallucination, Dr. Lee conducts a hypnosis on him and finds out that he was Hon's mole. Lau realizes his folly and knocks Lee unconscious before escaping.
Lau steals tapes from Yeung's office safe, using his spy cameras to determine the code. He thinks he hears recordings of Yeung relating information to Hon, and so leads his team to the Security Division. He is announcing that he is arresting Yeung as Shen arrives. Lau plays a tape recording, which is actually the conversation between him and Hon in the movie theatre as seen in Infernal Affairs. When Lau's second-in-command tries to arrest him instead, Lau panics and draws his gun, asking for a chance to be a good guy, but Yeung declares, "sorry, I'm a cop." (in the same manner Chan did before his death) Lau yells, "I'm a cop too!" and shoots Yeung in the forehead, killing him on the spot. He is immediately shot by Shen in the next instant and attempts suicide by shooting himself in the neck.
Yeung is buried next to Chan in the police cemetery. Shen and Dr. Lee visit the graves and Shen says to Lee: "Events change men, but men do not change events. But these two men are extraordinary because they changed events."
Lau ends up crippled and catatonic
, lost inside his own mind, haunted by the spirit of Mary (Hon Sam's wife, whom he had a crush on in Infernal Affairs II) and locked in his own "continuous hell
". His divorced wife Mary visits and tells him, "Our baby can say "papa" now." Before the picture fades into the next scene, the camera pans down onto Lau's fingers tapping out in Morse code
, "H-E-L..." (and then the start of another 'L' as the picture dims).
Before the film ends, there is one final flashback to the hi-fi shop scene in Infernal Affairs, where Lau is buying an audio system from Chan.
awarded the film a 3 out of 5 rating. The plot is also seen as confusing due to the constant flashbacks depicting Chan Wing-yan alive.
LoveHKFilm rated the film as pushing beyond its original intentions, leaving more questions than answering them at the end of the run. While a relatively enjoyable film, it was obviously commercialized, citing scenes where all lead actors are crammed into one room or bringing back characters who were killed in the previous film in order to garner screentime for them. Although Tony Leung won the Best Actor award at the Hong Kong Film Awards and the Golden Horse Awards
for his portrayal of Chan Wing-yan in the original Infernal Affairs, Andy Lau was the one who won the Best Actor award at the 41st Golden Horse Awards for his portrayal of Lau Kin-ming in Infernal Affairs III.
There are two cuts of the film: a 107-minute version which was released in Hong Kong theatres, and a 118-minute version, which is the directors' cut. Both are available on DVD. According to LoveHKFilm, the longer version is the superior cut.
Hong Kong films of 2003
A list of films produced in Hong Kong in 2003:.-2003:-External links:* * Hong Kong films of 2003 at...
Hong Kong
Cinema of Hong Kong
The cinema of Hong Kong is one of the three major threads in the history of Chinese language cinema, alongside the cinema of China, and the cinema of Taiwan...
crime
Crime film
Crime films are films which focus on the lives of criminals. The stylistic approach to a crime film varies from realistic portrayals of real-life criminal figures, to the far-fetched evil doings of imaginary arch-villains. Criminal acts are almost always glorified in these movies.- Plays and films...
thriller film directed by Andrew Lau
Andrew Lau
Andrew Lau Wai-Keung is a Hong Kong cinematographer and filmmaker. Lau began his career in the 1980s and 1990s, serving as a cinematographer to filmmakers such as Ringo Lam, Wong Jing and Wong Kar-wai. In the 1990s, Lau decided to have more creative freedom as a cinematographer by becoming a film...
and Alan Mak
Alan Mak
Alan Mak Siu-Fai , born on 1 January 1968 in Hong Kong, is a writer, director, actor and producer.-Biography:In 1986, Mak studied at the School of Drama in the Hong Kong Academy for Performance Arts. Upon graduation in 1990, he started his movie career....
. It is the third installment in the Infernal Affairs
Infernal Affairs
Infernal Affairs is a 2002 Hong Kong crime-thriller film directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak. It tells the story of a police officer who infiltrates the triads, and a police officer secretly working for the same gang. The Chinese title means "the non-stop path", a reference to Avici, the lowest...
film series, and is both a sequel
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
and a semi-prequel
Prequel
A prequel is a work that supplements a previously completed one, and has an earlier time setting.The widely recognized term was a 20th-century neologism, and a portmanteau from pre- and sequel...
to the original film, as it intercuts events before and after the events in the first film. Andy Lau
Andy Lau
Andy Lau MH, JP is a Hong Kong Cantopop singer, actor, and film producer. Lau has been one of Hong Kong's most commercially successful film actors since the mid-1980s, performing in more than 160 films while maintaining a successful singing career at the same time...
, Tony Leung, Kelly Chen
Kelly Chen
Kelly Chen is a Hong Kong Cantopop singer and actress. Kelly has also been known as a diva in Asia. She has a great success in Asia Entertainment industry with nearly 20 million record sales of 38 albums...
, Anthony Wong, Eric Tsang
Eric Tsang
Eric Tsang Chi-wai , MH is a prolific Hong Kong actor, film director, film producer and television host best known for hosting the Super Trio series on TVB over the course of 10 years.-Biography:Due to his popularity, he is often the MC in events organized by TVB, and is nicknamed "the Prize Master"...
, and Chapman To
Chapman To
Chapman To Man-chak is a Hong Kong actor, best known for specializing in comedic roles in films such as Infernal Affairs and Initial D.-Career:To began his acting career in TV soap operas and moved to the big screen in 2000...
reprise their roles again, joined by new cast members Leon Lai
Leon Lai
Leon Lai is a Hong Kong-based actor and Cantopop singer. The media refer to Aaron Kwok, Jacky Cheung, Andy Lau and Leon Lai as the Cantopop Four Heavenly Kings . He uses the stage name "Li Ming" or "Lai Ming" which literally means "dawn."-Biography:...
and Chen Daoming
Chen Daoming
Chen Daoming is a famous Chinese actor known for his flexibility and longevity. He has been branded the Emperor of Chinese drama, having starred in all types of dramas and films....
.
Plot
Infernal Affairs III uses parallel storytelling, flashing between the past and the present.Six months before Chan's death
Undercover cop Chan Wing-yan seeks to uncover the link between triad boss Hon Sam and the mysterious Mainland Chinese triad boss Shen Cheng. Since Hon's ascension to the seat of triad boss was due to Ngai Wing-hau's death in Infernal Affairs II, Hon is suspicious of all his followers for fear they might usurp his position. He tests Chan's loyalty by ordering Chan to smash an ashtray on Shen's brother during a negotiation, resulting in Chan's arrest by Inspector Yeung Kam-wing. After being released, Shen smashes a bottle of liquor on Chan's head and calls for a truce between his and Hon's triad.Concurrently, Chan is prosecuted by the police for violent behaviour. His superior, Superintendent Wong Chi-shing, persuades the court to allow Chan to see a psychologist instead of serving jail. Chan meets Dr. Lee Sum-yee regularly for psychological therapy. Hon asks Chan to deliver arms to Shen but he and other triad members do not turn up. When Chan delivers the cargo, Shen's men discover that the boxes are empty, and they open fire at Chan. Shen and Chan shoot each other in the limbs during the crossfire. Shen finds out that Chan is an undercover cop when Yeung unexpectedly arrives on the scene. Yeung tells Chan that Shen is actually also an undercover cop from the Mainland. Yeung also tells Chan that he gained top honours when he was in the police academy due to Chan's "expulsion". The three shake hands and wait for the mayhem to subside before returning to their bases.
Ten months after Chan's death
Former triad mole-turned-cop Lau Kin-ming has been demoted to administrative duty pending an investigation into the deaths of Chan and Billy ("Inspector B" in Infernal Affairs). Lau claims that Billy shot Chan in the head while holding him hostage, and he killed Billy in retaliation. In fact, Chan was holding Lau hostage after discovering that Lau was the mole, but was shot by Billy, who turned out to be also a triad mole. Lau killed Billy after that to erase traces of his criminal connections. After months of investigation, Lau is transferred back to Internal Affairs Department. He struggles to whitewash his past and cover his true identity. Just then, he learns that Hon Sam had previously planted five moles in the police force, one of whom might be a fellow Security Division Inspector, Yeung. A battle of wits develops between Lau and Yeung, as each of them tries to discover the other's secret.Meanwhile, Lau suffers from an identity collapse as he loses track of reality, wrestling with guilt over Chan's murder, and an impending divorce with his wife, Mary. His psychological trauma deteriorates to the point where he begins to see himself as Chan. As "Chan", Lau makes it a personal mission to apprehend Yeung, whom he sees as his former "triad mole" self. After witnessing an incident where Lau suffers a hallucination, Dr. Lee conducts a hypnosis on him and finds out that he was Hon's mole. Lau realizes his folly and knocks Lee unconscious before escaping.
Lau steals tapes from Yeung's office safe, using his spy cameras to determine the code. He thinks he hears recordings of Yeung relating information to Hon, and so leads his team to the Security Division. He is announcing that he is arresting Yeung as Shen arrives. Lau plays a tape recording, which is actually the conversation between him and Hon in the movie theatre as seen in Infernal Affairs. When Lau's second-in-command tries to arrest him instead, Lau panics and draws his gun, asking for a chance to be a good guy, but Yeung declares, "sorry, I'm a cop." (in the same manner Chan did before his death) Lau yells, "I'm a cop too!" and shoots Yeung in the forehead, killing him on the spot. He is immediately shot by Shen in the next instant and attempts suicide by shooting himself in the neck.
Eleven months after Chan's death
A series of flashbacks play: immediately after Chan's death, Shen and Yeung meet. Shen suspects Lau. Yeung breaks into Lau's office to find tape recordings of his conversations with Hon, proving that Shen is right.Yeung is buried next to Chan in the police cemetery. Shen and Dr. Lee visit the graves and Shen says to Lee: "Events change men, but men do not change events. But these two men are extraordinary because they changed events."
Lau ends up crippled and catatonic
Catatonia
Catatonia is a state of neurogenic motor immobility, and behavioral abnormality manifested by stupor. It was first described in 1874: Die Katatonie oder das Spannungsirresein ....
, lost inside his own mind, haunted by the spirit of Mary (Hon Sam's wife, whom he had a crush on in Infernal Affairs II) and locked in his own "continuous hell
Avici
In Buddhism, ' is the lowest level of the Naraka or "hell" realm, into which the dead who have committed grave misdeeds may be reborn...
". His divorced wife Mary visits and tells him, "Our baby can say "papa" now." Before the picture fades into the next scene, the camera pans down onto Lau's fingers tapping out in Morse code
Morse code
Morse code is a method of transmitting textual information as a series of on-off tones, lights, or clicks that can be directly understood by a skilled listener or observer without special equipment...
, "H-E-L..." (and then the start of another 'L' as the picture dims).
Before the film ends, there is one final flashback to the hi-fi shop scene in Infernal Affairs, where Lau is buying an audio system from Chan.
Cast
- Andy LauAndy LauAndy Lau MH, JP is a Hong Kong Cantopop singer, actor, and film producer. Lau has been one of Hong Kong's most commercially successful film actors since the mid-1980s, performing in more than 160 films while maintaining a successful singing career at the same time...
as Senior Inspector Lau Kin-ming , a former triad mole in the police force who tries to cover his past and remain as a cop- Edison ChenEdison ChenEdison Koon-Hei Chen is a Hong Kong film actor, Cantopop singer, Hong Kong hip hop rapper, model, record producer, fashion designer, and a pop icon. Chen is also the founder of CLOT Inc., and the CEO of Clot Media Division Limited...
as young Lau Kin-ming
- Edison Chen
- Tony Leung as Chan Wing-yan , an undercover cop. He was killed in the first film.
- Shawn YueShawn YueShawn Yue is a Hong Kong actor and singer. A former model, he has starred in many films such as Jiang Hu and Infernal Affairs II and has established himself as a recognized face in Hong Kong cinema.- Background :...
as young Chan Wing-yan
- Shawn Yue
- Leon LaiLeon LaiLeon Lai is a Hong Kong-based actor and Cantopop singer. The media refer to Aaron Kwok, Jacky Cheung, Andy Lau and Leon Lai as the Cantopop Four Heavenly Kings . He uses the stage name "Li Ming" or "Lai Ming" which literally means "dawn."-Biography:...
as Superintendent Yeung Kam-wing , Lau's rival in the police force- Eddie Li as young Yeung Kam-wing
- Chen DaomingChen DaomingChen Daoming is a famous Chinese actor known for his flexibility and longevity. He has been branded the Emperor of Chinese drama, having starred in all types of dramas and films....
as Shen Cheng "Shadow" , a Mainland Chinese triad boss who is actually an undercover cop - Kelly ChenKelly ChenKelly Chen is a Hong Kong Cantopop singer and actress. Kelly has also been known as a diva in Asia. She has a great success in Asia Entertainment industry with nearly 20 million record sales of 38 albums...
as Dr. Lee Sum-yee , Chan's therapist and love interest - Anthony Wong as Superintendent Wong Chi-shing , Chan's superior. He was killed by Hon Sam's henchmen in the first film.
- Eric TsangEric TsangEric Tsang Chi-wai , MH is a prolific Hong Kong actor, film director, film producer and television host best known for hosting the Super Trio series on TVB over the course of 10 years.-Biography:Due to his popularity, he is often the MC in events organized by TVB, and is nicknamed "the Prize Master"...
as Hon Sam , the triad boss. He was killed by Lau in the first film. - Chapman ToChapman ToChapman To Man-chak is a Hong Kong actor, best known for specializing in comedic roles in films such as Infernal Affairs and Initial D.-Career:To began his acting career in TV soap operas and moved to the big screen in 2000...
as Tsui Wai-keung / "Crazy Keung" ( / ), Hon's henchman. He was killed in the first film. - Berg Ng as Inspector Cheung (SIR)
- Wan Chi-keungWan Chi KeungWan Chi Keung was a soccer player, actor and businessman from Hong Kong.Known as "Asia's top striker" Wan was a key player for the Hong Kong national football team in the 1970s and 1980s. He played for South China AA and Seiko in the Hong Kong First Division League. After retirement, he became an...
as Officer Leung (SIR) - Gordon Lam as Inspector Lam Kwok-ping / "Inspector B (Billy)" ( / B), the triad mole who killed Chan in the first film. He was shot by Lau after revealing his true identity.
- Sammi ChengSammi ChengSammi Cheng Sau-Man is a Hong Kong Cantopop singer and actress. Having enjoyed much success in the Hong Kong music industry, Sammi has been known as a diva and has been one of the most successful female singer in Hong Kong since the 1990s. Her albums have sold more than 25 million copies through...
as Mary, Lau's wife. A younger Mary was seen in the last part of the second film in the police station scene. - Carina LauCarina LauCarina Lau Kar-ling is a Hong Kong actress. She was especially notable in the 1980s for her girl-next-door type roles in films....
as Mary, Hon Sam's wife whom Lau had a crush on. She was mowed down by a car in the second film. - Huang ZhizhongHuang ZhizhongHuang Zhizhong, born 5 March 1969 in Tientsin, China is a Chinese actor.- Background :Huang was a basketball player at a young age. After he retired from basketball team, he worked in Tientsin Textile manufacturing factory as a Machinist fitter. Later， he enter Tientsin Trade union Academy for a...
as Shen Liang - Waise LeeWaise LeeWaise Lee Chi-hung is a Hong Kong film and television actor best known for playing the roles of villains and antagonists in various films.-Biography:...
as Sergeant Chan Chun
- Wan Yeung-ming as Nightclub manager
- Courtney Wu as Hi-fi shop owner
- Koo Hau-zheng as Security wing officer
- Pang Wai-ming as Security wing officer
- Yip Wai-chuen as Security wing officer
- Ng Wai-bing as Security wing officer
- Sit Kim-wai as Security wing officer
- Lau Hing-kuen as Security wing officer
- Mok Nga-kwan as Security wing officer
- Tong Wai-kit as Security wing officer
- Kwok Ka-shing as Security wing officer
- Lee Chi-gwan as Security wing officer
- Lau Ga-kei as IA officer
- Lam Chi-tai as IA officer
- Hoh Ji-jun as IA officer
- Chu Wang-kit as IA officer
- Chan Man-ban as IA officer
- Chiu Man-tung as IA officer
- Yip Wan-keung as IA officer
- Wong Hiu-fai as IA officer
- Lui Wai-man as IA officer
- Chim Sau-gwan as IA officer
- Chow Wai-ho as Shen Liang's thug
- Chan San-hei as Shen Liang's thug
- Yim Chi-kong as Shen Liang's thug
- Chim Kam-ho as Shen Liang's thug
- Ng Sai-keung as Shen Liang's thug
- Chan Ka-lun as Shen Liang's thug
- Lai Wai-ming as Hon Sam's thug
- Lee Ji-ming as Hon Sam's thug
- Yu Sai-tang as Hon Sam's thug
- Leung Ho-gai as Hon Sam's thug
- Lai Chi-wai as Hon Sam's thug
- Hoh Shu-wing as Taiwanese arms dealer
- Lau Yuk-gei as Taiwanese arms dealer
- Tam Gam-fai as Bank manager
- Wu Chi-sang as OCTB officer
- Au Hin-wai as OCTB officer
- Lee Tin-cheung as OCTB officer
- Wong Yin-keung as OCTB officer
- Yiu Man-gei as OCTB officer
- Wong Chi-wang as CIB officer
- Benjamin YuenBenjamin YuenBenjamin Yuen, also known as Benjamin Yuen Wai Ho he became the winner of Hong Kong's Mr. Hong Kong beauty contest in 2007...
as CIB officer - Ng Yun-man as CIB officer
- Lau Sam-yi as CIB officer
- Chan Shek-kong as Uncle Chan
- Chow Chi-keung as Superintendent
- Chan Kwok-wing as Superintendent
- Hui On-dat as Superintendent
- Fung Hong-ling as Massage parlor licensee
- Chan Lai-kit as Nightclub thug
- Chan Wai-keung as Nightclub thug
- Choi Jing-man as Nightclub dancer
- Siu Yin-ming as Nightclub dancer
- Yip Mei-yee as Old lady in bank
- Siu Wai-leung as Hon Sam's attorney
- Ho Ka-kui as Shen Liang's attorney
- Fong Ho-yin as Ronald
Theme song
- Road to Inferno (自作自受)
- Composer: Andy LauAndy LauAndy Lau MH, JP is a Hong Kong Cantopop singer, actor, and film producer. Lau has been one of Hong Kong's most commercially successful film actors since the mid-1980s, performing in more than 160 films while maintaining a successful singing career at the same time...
, Chan Tak-kin, Wan Ho-kit - Lyricist: Andy Lau
- Singer: Hacken LeeHacken LeeHacken Lee Hak Kan is an award winning Hong Kong based Cantopop singer and lyricist, actor, Master of Ceremonies and Association football sportscaster.-Early years: 1985-1995:...
- Alternate singer: Andy Lau
Reception
Despite grossing higher than the second film at the box office with HKD 30,225,661 (over HKD 5 million more than Infernal Affairs II), Infernal Affairs III received lower ratings than the former. Channel 4Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
awarded the film a 3 out of 5 rating. The plot is also seen as confusing due to the constant flashbacks depicting Chan Wing-yan alive.
LoveHKFilm rated the film as pushing beyond its original intentions, leaving more questions than answering them at the end of the run. While a relatively enjoyable film, it was obviously commercialized, citing scenes where all lead actors are crammed into one room or bringing back characters who were killed in the previous film in order to garner screentime for them. Although Tony Leung won the Best Actor award at the Hong Kong Film Awards and the Golden Horse Awards
Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards
The Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards is a film festival and awards ceremony held annually in Taiwan. It was founded in 1962, by Government Information Office, Republic of China...
for his portrayal of Chan Wing-yan in the original Infernal Affairs, Andy Lau was the one who won the Best Actor award at the 41st Golden Horse Awards for his portrayal of Lau Kin-ming in Infernal Affairs III.
There are two cuts of the film: a 107-minute version which was released in Hong Kong theatres, and a 118-minute version, which is the directors' cut. Both are available on DVD. According to LoveHKFilm, the longer version is the superior cut.
Awards nominations
23rd Hong Kong Film Awards23rd Hong Kong Film Awards
Ceremony for the 23rd Hong Kong Film Awards was held on 4 April 2004 in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Hosts for the ceremony consisted of Dayo Wong and a line-up of nine female celebrities, namely Bowie Tsang, Athena Chu, Candice Yu, Cherrie Ying, Terri Kwan, Ada Choi, Josie Ho, Kristy Yang and Jo...
- Best Film
- Best Screenplay
- Best Cinematography
- Best Editing
- Best Original Film Music
- Best Sound Effect
- Best Visual Effect
See also
- Infernal AffairsInfernal AffairsInfernal Affairs is a 2002 Hong Kong crime-thriller film directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak. It tells the story of a police officer who infiltrates the triads, and a police officer secretly working for the same gang. The Chinese title means "the non-stop path", a reference to Avici, the lowest...
- Infernal Affairs IIInfernal Affairs IIInfernal Affairs II is a 2003 Hong Kong crime-thriller film directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak.It is a prequel to the 2002 film Infernal Affairs. Anthony Wong, Eric Tsang, Edison Chen, Shawn Yue, and Chapman To reprise their roles from the original film alongside new cast members Carina Lau,...
- Cinema of Hong KongCinema of Hong KongThe cinema of Hong Kong is one of the three major threads in the history of Chinese language cinema, alongside the cinema of China, and the cinema of Taiwan...
- List of Hong Kong films
- List of movies set in Hong Kong
- List of Dragon Dynasty releases