The 46th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF46) will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the release of Andrew LAU and Alan MAK’s Infernal Affairs with a marathon screening of the complete epic crime trilogy, now restored in 4K.
This special screening of The Infernal Affairs Trilogy, details to be announced on 27 July with the unveiling of HKIFF46’s complete programme, will highlight a six-film Chinese-language Restored Classics section which also includes Ann HUI’s Boat People (1982), Lou YE’s Suzhou River (2000), and HOU Hsiao-Hsien’s Millennium Mambo (2001).
Remade as the Oscar-winning The Departed by Martin SCORSESE in 2006, Infernal Affairs (2002) is a testament to the indelible creative power of Hong Kong cinema and, arguably, the definitive film of the post-1997 era. Together with its prequel Infernal Affairs II (2003) and the finale Infernal Affairs III (2003), this stunning trilogy about an undercover cop battling a triad mole features a stellar ensemble cast led by Andy LAU and Tony LEUNG Chiu-wai.
Equally impressive are the performances of the female leads in the other films selected for the section. Making her screen debut, Season MA was outstanding in Boat People, Ann HUI’s profoundly humanistic approach to the tragedy of Vietnam people fleeing their homeland in search of freedom. ZHOU Xun’s breakthrough performance was the focal point of Suzhou River, LOU Ye’s Rotterdam Tiger Award winner that gives a vivid portrait of an uprooted generation through an elusive story of tragic romance, resonating against the sombre backdrop of Shanghai.
Rounding off the programme is HOU Hsiao-Hsien’s Taipei allegory, Millennium Mambo, which captures the mercurial spirit of the new generation on the eve of the new millennium under lustrous lensing and alluring tableaux, featuring a captivating performance by the formidable SHU Qi.
Taking place from 15 to 31 August for 17 days, HKIFF46 will again adopt a hybrid format, featuring screenings and audience-engagement events in theatres and online.
Six Chinese-language Restored Classics:
1982 Boat People by Ann HUI
2000 Suzhou River by Lou YE
2001 Millennium Mambo by HOU Hsiao-Hsien
2002 Infernal Affairs by Andrew LAU and Alan MAK
2003 Infernal Affairs II by Andrew LAU and Alan MAK
2003 Infernal Affairs III by Andrew LAU and Alan MAK
