無間道
"Loyalty. Honor. Betrayal."
Infernal Affairs - Characters & Cast
Character Analysis
Chan Wing-yan
Tony Leung Chiu-wai
Motivation
To regain his true identity and prove he is a 'good man' by taking down the Triad boss, Hon Sam.
Character Arc
Chan begins the film as a man exhausted by ten years of undercover work, clinging to the hope of reclaiming his status as a cop. He finds a brief sense of peace with his psychiatrist, but ultimately sacrifices his life for the truth.
Lau Kin-ming
Andy Lau
Motivation
To fully transition into a 'good man' by erasing his past, even if it requires further acts of betrayal.
Character Arc
Lau starts as a successful officer enjoying the trappings of a 'good life.' However, he becomes desperate to erase his criminal ties. He 'wins' by surviving, but is condemned to a living hell of permanent deception.
Wong Chi-shing
Anthony Wong
Motivation
To dismantle Hon Sam's empire and protect the undercover agents he has put in harm's way.
Character Arc
A stern but caring superintendent who serves as Chan's only link to the real world. His death is the catalyst for the final conflict.
Hon Sam
Eric Tsang
Motivation
To expand his criminal empire and maintain control by rootting out any internal threats.
Character Arc
A ruthless Triad boss who treats his subordinates with a mix of generosity and extreme suspicion. He believes he can manipulate fate, but is ultimately betrayed by the very man he planted in the police force.