10-26-2002, Hero held a very quiet and secretive screening in ShengZhen, China. It
plans to run for 7 days. This screening is a set up to meet the requirement
for Oscar nomination.
Apparently, Oscar has strict rules that requires competiting foreign films
to be shown in their native country for at least
7 days. The world premiere is set for December. [Hero website]
10-23-2002, Infernal Affairs is scheduled to
premiere in December.
MING (Andy Lau) is a mole in the police department. On the command of his Triad
boss SAM (Eric Tsang), he became a cop when he was merely 18. After a decade of
hard work, he has become a police sergeant in the Criminal Intelligence Bureau.
With the help of Sam who tips him off with intelligence of his Triad rivals,
Ming manages to earn kudos from his superiors. After passing a recent
examination with flying colors, he has high hope of being promoted to
probationary inspector.
YAN (Tony Leung) is a police mole in the Triads. Recruited before
he even graduated from the police academy, he was initiated into the Triads as a
teenaged underling. During his decade as an undercover, he has been convicted
eight times of causing bodily harm to others, jailed twice, and sentenced to
compulsory psychological counseling. As a Red Pole, or enforcer, his immediate
boss is none other than Sam.
Leading parallel lives, Ming and Yan are feeling increasingly
trapped in their false surroundings. Wobbling in the inferno between the living
and the dead, they are desperate to find a way out. Ming would like to sever all
ties with his illegal past and become a real cop. To do so would mean the
elimination of Sam. Yan is sick and tired of chopping people up in the name of
justice, and is striving to regain his real identity. Only one person can help
him: SUPERINTENDENT WONG (Anthony Wong), the man who recruited him as an
undercover.
Their curious paths finally cross each other one fateful evening.
During a police attempt to topple Sam's illegal operations, both sides realize
there's a mole amongst themselves. A series of cat-and-mouse chases ensue, as
each side is competing to uncover their mole first. To make things even more
chaotic, Ming is finally promoted to probationary inspector and is transferred
to Internal Affairs. His first assignment is to uncover Sam's mole in the police
department…