''Infernal Affairs II'' is a 2003 Hong Kong

crime In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a State (polity), state or other authority. The term ''crime'' does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition,Farmer, Lindsay: "Crime, definit ...

action film Action film is a film genre in which the protagonist is thrust into a series of events that typically involve violence and physical feats. The genre tends to feature a mostly resourceful hero struggling against incredible odds, which include life ...

directed by

Andrew Lau Andrew Lau Wai-keung ( zh, t=劉偉強, born 4 April 1960) is a Hong Kong film director, producer, and cinematographer. Lau began his career in the 1980s and 1990s, serving as a cinematographer to filmmakers such as Ringo Lam, Wong Jing and Wong ...

and Alan Mak. It is a

prequel A prequel is a literary, dramatic or cinematic work whose story precedes that of a previous work, by focusing on events that occur before the original narrative. A prequel is a work that forms part of a backstory to the preceding work. The term " ...

to the 2002 film ''

Infernal Affairs ''Infernal Affairs'' is a 2002 Hong Kong action thriller film co-directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak. Jointly written by Mak and Felix Chong, it stars Andy Lau, Tony Leung, Anthony Wong, Eric Tsang, Sammi Cheng and Kelly Chen. The film fo ...

''. Anthony Wong,

Eric Tsang Eric Tsang Chi-wai (; born 14 April 1953) is a Hong Kong actor, film director, producer, and television host, best known for hosting the variety show ''Super Trio series'' on the Hong Kong television network TVB over 18 years. He currently holds ...

Edison Chen Edison Chen Koon-hei (, born Chen Hing-wah on 7 October 1980) is a Canadian-born Hong Kong actor, singer, rapper, fashion designer and entrepreneur. Chen is the co-founder of CLOT, a Hong Kong-based streetwear and fashion label. Debuting in 19 ...

Shawn Yue Shawn Yue Man-lok (born 13 November 1981) is a Hong Kong actor and singer. A former model, he has starred in many films, such as ''Jiang Hu'', ''Infernal Affairs II'', the ''Love in the Buff'' film series, ''Mad World'' and '' The Brink'', and ha ...

and

Chapman To Chapman To (, born 8 June 1972), born Edward Ng Cheuk-cheung (), is a Hong Kong actor. He is best known for his roles in films such as ''Infernal Affairs'' and '' Initial D''. He is also the founder of his own multimedia platform known as "Chapman ...

reprise their roles from the original film alongside new cast members

Carina Lau Carina Lau Kar-ling (, born 8 December 1966) is a Hong Kong-Canadian actress and singer. She started her acting career in TVB, before going on to achieve success in films after 2nd year at the college. She was notable in the 1980s for her girl-n ...

Francis Ng Francis Ng Chun-yu (; born 21 December 1961) is a Hong Kong actor and director. He is known for his roles in the TVB series ''Triumph in the Skies'' and in films such as ''Young and Dangerous'', '' Once Upon a Time in Triad Society'', ''A Ma ...

Hu Jun Hu Jun (born March 18, 1968) is a Chinese actor best known for playing dramatic roles in various films and television series. He has acted in a number of Hong Kong films. Biography Hu Jun was born on March 18, 1968, to Wang Yiman (), a drama ac ...

and

Roy Cheung Roy Cheung Yiu-Yeung (; born 20 July 1963 in Hong Kong) is a Hong Kong-based actor, best known on-screen for his roles as Triad gangsters in a number of films. Early life and career As a child, Cheung idolized kung-fu legend Bruce Lee but nev ...

. Neither

Andy Lau Andy Lau Tak-wah (; born 27 September 1961) is a Hong Kong actor, singer-songwriter and film producer. He has been one of Hong Kong's most commercially successful film actors since the mid-1980s, performing in more than 160 films while maint ...

nor Tony Leung, who played the central roles in the original, appear in this film as they are replaced by their younger versions portrayed by Chen and Yue respectively. The events of the film take place from 1991 to 1997. It was followed by ''

Infernal Affairs III ''Infernal Affairs III'' is a 2003 Hong Kong crime action film directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak. It is the third and final installment in the ''Infernal Affairs'' film series, and is both a sequel and a semi-prequel to the original film, a ...

'' (2003), which is both a sequel and a semi-prequel to the original film.

Plot

In 1991

Hong Kong Police Force The Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) is the primary law enforcement, investigative agency, and largest Hong Kong Disciplined Services, disciplined service under the Security Bureau (Hong Kong), Security Bureau of Hong Kong. The Royal Hong Kong Po ...

Superintendent Wong Chi-Shing meets his Triad informant, Hon Sam. Meanwhile, Lau Kin-Ming, who is due to become Hon's prospective

spy Espionage, spying, or intelligence gathering is the act of obtaining secret or confidential information (intelligence) from non-disclosed sources or divulging of the same without the permission of the holder of the information for a tangib ...

within the Hong Kong Police Force, assassinates Hon's Triad boss, Ngai Kwun, in a mission for Hon's wife, Mary, who wants Hon to rise up the triad ranks. Mary tells Lau to keep her order secret from all, including Hon. With Kwun dead, the Big Four triad underbosses intend to stop paying their dues to the Ngai family, but Kwun's successor and son Ngai Wing-Hau manipulates them to continue by blackmailing them on their mutual betrayals. As Lau enlists in the police academy, another police cadet, Chan Wing-Yan, is fired from the academy upon the discovery that he is also a (illegitimate) son of Kwun's, despite his dissociation with the Ngais. The police tell Chan to meet Wong, who enlists Chan as an undercover cop after Chan relays his purpose of being a righteous man. Chan is imprisoned on fake criminal charges to get close to one of Hon's men, Keung, whom Chan helped arrest previously.

In 1995

Lau has risen as a rookie cop, due to tips on criminal dealings from Hon. Meanwhile, Chan has become a small-time gangster after his and Keung's release from prison. Chan's girlfriend aborts their baby due to his gang association. Hau invites Chan to join the Triad, then tells the Big Four and Hon that he wants to emigrate, leaving them the Hong Kong underworld. Hau sends Hon to Thailand to link up with Thai cocaine smugglers, Hon leaves despite Mary's warning of a trap. Mary meets Wong; it is revealed that Wong ordered her to kill Kwun. Hau's right-hand-man, Law, an undercover cop, tips off the next deal of Hau's. There, the police arrest Hau, but instead of finding drugs, they find a video located by Hau's hired private investigators, showing Mary and Wong's conspiracy to murder Kwun. Simultaneously, Hau's men assassinate the Big Four. Mary admits the truth about Kwun to Hon. Spooked, Hon and Keung kill many Thai mafia. Trapped, Hon makes a desperate overture to Thai mafioso Paul for an alliance. Paul attempts to shoot Hon; the gun misfires. Hau also sends a man to kill Mary, but Lau kills him to save Mary. The police release Hau, who kills Law after discovering Law's

wire Overhead power cabling. The conductor consists of seven strands of steel (centre, high tensile strength), surrounded by four outer layers of aluminium (high conductivity). Sample diameter 40 mm A wire is a flexible strand of metal. Wire is c ...

. Chan saves Hau from a

drive-by shooting A drive-by shooting is a type of assault that usually involves the perpetrator(s) firing a weapon from within a motor vehicle and then fleeing. Drive-by shootings allow the perpetrator(s) to quickly strike their target and flee the scene before ...

, possibly conducted by Lau. Hau has a

car bomb A car bomb, bus bomb, lorry bomb, or truck bomb, also known as a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), is an improvised explosive device designed to be detonated in an automobile or other vehicles. Car bombs can be roughly divided ...

planted in Wong's car, which kills Wong's superior and friend, Superintendent Luk, while Wong is unharmed. Lau hides Mary in a safehouse. When she rejects his romantic advances and attempts to travel to Thailand for Hon, Lau anonymously betrays her to Hau's men, who kill her at

Kai Tak Airport Kai Tak Airport was the international airport of Hong Kong from 1925 until 1998. Officially known as Hong Kong International Airport from 1954 to 6 July 1998, it is often referred to as Hong Kong International Airport, Kai Tak, or simply Ka ...

In 1997

Lau is promoted to Inspector; Chan is a full-fledged triad member. Hon has a new wife and child in Thailand. Wong admits guilt of conspiracy to murder to an internal investigation, but the department clears him so that he can take down the increasingly powerful Hau. Wong persuades Hon to return to Hong Kong to testify against Hau, as revenge for Mary. Hau is arrested, ruining his attempt to enter politics. Hon's testimony would threaten a short jail sentence for Hau. Chan later passes Wong decisive evidence against Hau. Triad member John has the Thai mafia take Hon's Thai wife and child hostage. Hon escapes

witness protection Witness protection is security provided to a threatened person providing testimonial evidence to the justice system, including defendants and other clients, before, during, and after a trial, usually by police. While a witness may only require p ...

and confronts Hau. Hon reveals that the Thai mafia were allied with him; they kill John. Hon also proves that Paul is holding the rest of the Ngai family hostage in Hawaii. The police arrive as an infuriated Hau prepares to shoot Hon. Hon accepts his death as revenge for Hau to be killed or jailed for life. Wong shoots Hau to save Hon. As Hau dies in Chan's arms, he discovers Chan's wire. Wong laments the failure to imprison Hau. Paul insists on executing the Ngai family to tie up loose ends, despite Hon's reluctance. The murders turn Hon into a top criminal target for Wong. Undercover cop Chan joins Keung in Hon's triad, while Lau, Hon's police spy, handles a case for a young woman, Mary, his future fiancée, setting up the events of ''

''.

Cast

* Anthony Wong as Wong Chi-shing (黃志誠), a police inspector who aims to take down the Ngai family triad. *

as Hon Sam (韓琛), a member of Ngai's triad. *

as Mary, Hon Sam's wife. *

as Ngai Wing-hau (倪永孝), the boss of the Ngai family triad after his father's assassination. *

as Lau Kin-ming (劉健明), Hon Sam's mole in the police force. *

as Chan Wing-yan (陳永仁), Ngai Wing-hau's half-brother and an undercover cop. *

as Luk Kai-cheung (陸啟昌), a police superintendent who is Wong's close friend and partner. *

as "Silly" Keung (傻強), Chan's friend and fellow triad member. *

as Law Kai-yin (羅繼賢), an undercover cop in the triad. *

Liu Kai-chi Dick Liu Kai-chi (, 30 September 1953 – 28 March 2021) was a Hong Kong actor, best known for his everyman supporting roles. His career spanned over 40 years, with appearances in over 90 television series and 70 films. He earned eight nomina ...

as Uncle John (三叔), a prominent triad member. *

Joe Cheung Joe Cheung Tung-cho () is a Hong Kong director, producer, scriptwriter and actor. Filmography As director * ''The Incredible Kung Fu Master'' (1979) * '' Killer Wears White'' (1980) * '' Dan bo dan'' (1981) * ''Pom Pom'' (1984) * ''Feng liu zho ...

as Ngai Kwun (倪坤), the boss of the Ngai family triad and Ngai Wing-hau's father who was assassinated by Lau. * Henry Fong as Gandhi (甘地), one of the Big Four. * Peter Ngor as Negro (黑鬼), one of the Big Four. *

Arthur Wong Arthur Wong Ngok-Tai (, born July 2, 1956) is a nine time Hong Kong Film Awards-winning cinematographer, actor, screenwriter, film producer and film director. Career As a cinematographer, Wong was inspired by his father, who was, himself, a ren ...

as Kwok-wah (國華), one of the Big Four. *

Teddy Chan Teddy Chan or Teddy Chen Tak Sum () is a Hong Kong film director, producer, writer and actor. Filmography Filmography as director, art director and other positions:

as Man-ching (文拯), one of the Big Four. * Chiu Chung-yu as Mary, the girl Lau meets in the police station at the end of the film. * Phorjeat Keanpetch as Sunny, the Thai drug lord who tried to kill Hon Sam. *

Ye Shipin Ye Shipin (born 1959) is a Singaporean television actor. Selected filmography *''The Golden Pillow'' 金枕頭 (1995) *'' Dr Justice II'' 法醫故事II (1995) *''Tofu Street'' 豆腐街 (1996) *''The Unbroken Cycle'' 解連環 (1996) *'' ...

as a socialite at the handover party *

Tay Ping Hui Tay Ping Hui (born 10 November 1970) is a Singaporean actor and director. In 2014, Tay made his directorial debut with the basketball film ''Meeting the Giant''. Early life Tay attended Catholic High School (Primary and Secondary) and Catholi ...

as Hung, lawyer for the Ngais * Hui Kam-fung as the principal of the police cadet school * Alexander Chan as Ngai Wing-yee (倪永義), Ngai Wing-hau's elder brother. *

Andrew Lin Andrew Lin Hoi () is a Hong Kong-based Taiwanese actor and visual artist. Originally working as a special effects makeup artist in the United States, he went to Hong Kong in 1996 where he started his acting career. Filmography Films Tel ...

as Ngai Wing-chung (倪永忠), Ngai Wing-hau's younger brother. *

Kara Hui Kara Wai Ying-hung BBS (; born 3 February 1960) is a Hong Kong actress best known internationally for her roles in wuxia films produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio in the 1970s and 1980s. Wai has since portrayed a wide range of roles on screen ...

as Ngai Wing-tsz (倪永慈), Ngai Wing-hau's elder sister * Wan Chi-keung as Superintendent Leung (梁Sir), Wong's superior. * Chan Charoenwichai as Paul, the Thai drug dealer who became friends with Hon Sam. *

Kelly Fu Kelly Fu Ka Lei ( Chinese: 傅嘉莉) (born 6 January 1985) is a Hong Kong-German actress and model. She is currently managed under the Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB). Career 2003–06: Career beginning Following her success during the fi ...

as May, Chan's girlfriend

Music

The film's score was composed by

Chan Kwong-wing Punk Chan Kwong-wing (; born June 15, 1967), also known as Comfort Chan Kwong-wing, is a music composer for Hong Kong films. Some of his well-known works in films include the ''Infernal Affairs'' trilogy, '' SPL: Sha Po Lang'', '' Initial D'', ' ...

. The theme song, ''Eternal Realm'' (長空; ''Changkong''), was composed by Wong Ka-keung, lyrics provided by Wong and Yip Sai-wing, and performed by the band

Beyond Beyond may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Beyond'' (1921 film), an American silent film * ''Beyond'' (2000 film), a Danish film directed by Åke Sandgren, OT: ''Dykkerne'' * ''Beyond'' (2010 film), a Swedish film directed b ...

Reception

The film was highly anticipated prior to its release due to the success achieved by ''Infernal Affairs''. However, the general response to the film was mixed.

Box office

The film grossed HK$24,919,376 — big by 2003 Hong Kong standards, but only about half of the original's earnings.

Awards

Although ''Infernal Affairs II'' earned twelve nominations for the 2003 Hong Kong Film Awards, it could not match its predecessor's success. The film won only one award, Best Original Film Song, for the song "長空" (performed by

Cantopop Cantopop (a contraction of "Cantonese pop music") or HK-pop (short for "Hong Kong pop music") is a genre of pop music written in standard Chinese and sung in Cantonese. Cantopop is also used to refer to the cultural context of its production ...

band

). The film won the Best Film award at the

Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards The Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards () are the annual awards given by the Hong Kong Film Critics Society in Hong Kong since 1994. The awards are determined by votes cast in three rounds after a substantial discussion session between the mem ...

. 23rd Hong Kong Film Awards *Won: Best Original Film Song (Wong Ka Keung, Yip Sai Wing, Beyond) *Nominated: Best Film (Andrew Lau) *Nominated: Best Director (Andrew Lau, Mak Siu-fai) *Nominated: Best Screenplay (Mak Siu-fai, Chong Man-keung) *Nominated: Best Actor (Francis Ng) *Nominated: Best Actress (Carina Lau) *Nominated: Best Supporting Actor (Chapman To) *Nominated: Best Supporting Actor (Liu Kai-chi) *Nominated: Best Cinematography (Andrew Lau, Ng Man-ching) *Nominated: Best Editing (Curran Pang, Danny Pang) *Nominated: Best Original Film Score (Chan Kwong-wing) *Nominated: Best Sound Effects (Kinson Tsang) 10th

*Won: Best Film

References

External links

* (dead)
Official site on Miramax
* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Infernal Affairs Ii 2003 films 2003 crime thriller films 2000s Cantonese-language films Basic Pictures films Hong Kong crime thriller films Hong Kong New Wave films Hong Kong police films Films about witness protection Films directed by Andrew Lau Films directed by Alan Mak Films set in 1991 Films set in 1995 Films set in 1997 Films set in Hong Kong Films shot in Hong Kong Media Asia films Police detective films Triad films Hong Kong crime action films 2000s Hong Kong films