A cold, noir-infused descent into a concrete purgatory where two souls, trapped in mirror-image deceptions, wander a maze of rooftops and Morse code while their identities slowly dissolve into the shadows.

Infernal Affairs

無間道

"Loyalty. Honor. Betrayal."

12 December 2002 Hong Kong 101 min ⭐ 7.8 (1,778)

Director: Alan Mak Siu-Fai Andrew Lau Wai-Keung

Cast: Andy Lau, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Anthony Wong Chau-Sang, Eric Tsang Chi-Wai, Kelly Chen

Drama Crime Action Thriller Mystery

Identity Crisis and Duality Moral Ambiguity and Karma Isolation and Trust Post-Colonial Anxiety

Budget: $6,400,000

Box Office: $8,836,958

Infernal Affairs - Movie Quotes

Memorable Quotes

Sorry, I am a cop.

— Chan Wing-yan

Context:

Spoken to Lau during the final rooftop confrontation while holding him at gunpoint.

Meaning:

The ultimate reclamation of his identity. In the face of his adversary, he finally vocalizes his true self, even if it makes him vulnerable.

I want to be a good man.

— Lau Kin-ming

Context:

Lau's plea to Chan on the rooftop, asking for a chance to start over.

Meaning:

Highlight's Lau's tragic delusion; he believes he can 'choose' a new moral standing by simply killing his past, ignoring the inherent corruption required to get there.

Who knows?

— Lau Kin-ming

Context:

His rebuttal to Chan's statement that he is a cop.

Meaning:

A chilling response that underscores the theme of identity as a social construct. If no one knows you are a criminal, do you remain one?

He who is in Continuous Hell never dies. Longevity is a big hardship in Continuous Hell.

— Opening/Closing Sutra

Context:

The final line of text displayed on the screen as the film ends.

Meaning:

Encapsulates the film's philosophy: that surviving a life of deception and guilt is a far greater punishment than death.

💬

View Full Movie Analysis