From the soul-crushing demise of Ah Chiu in Man on the Brink, to the fateful rooftop standoff between Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Andy Lau Tak-wah in Infernal Affairs, numerous iconic scenes made undercover films all-time classics of Hong Kong cinema.
As heroes caught between loyalty and deception, duty and survival, the undercover agents face the mental anguish resulting from a dual identity as well as difficulties in re-entering normal life.
Recently, Tai Kwun transformed into a homage to these shadow warriors with Undercover Underworld, an exhibition that plunges visitors into the golden age of the undercover cop thriller.
Scene 1: Identity. Tai Kwun
This exhibition traces the evolution of Hong Kong’s undercover movies over more than four decades with eight seminal films, from the new wave pioneer Man on the Brink, to the action-film boom of the 1980s and 1990s with City on Fire and A Better Tomorrow II as well as Hard Boiled, to the current century's Infernal Affairs, Protégé and The White Storm.
Original manuscripts, awards, and props offer a tangible connection to the stories that defined Hong Kong cinema’s ‘all too extravagant’ spirit, while heavyweight guests like Louis Koo Tin-lok, Tsui Hark, and Alan Mak Siu-fai will dissect the craft of undercover storytelling in displayed exclusive video interviews.
Priceless manuscripts and awards on loan from top filmmakers. Tai Kwun
Walking into the 10 re-created moments of the eight classic movies, visitors can truly grasp the inner turmoil and existential weight that defines the existence of an undercover cop.
Scene 4 “Battlefield” from City on Fire features a lifelike gunfight, with bullet holes, smoke, and surround sound, to immerse visitors in a shootout.
Scene 4: Battlefield. Tai Kwun
Meanwhile, the psychiatrist’s consulting room from Infernal Affairs displayed in scene 6 unveils an undercover agent’s mental turmoil.
But nothing can compare to the breathtaking spectacle "Shooting in Action." Two cars, locked in a mid-air collision, burst through the cathedral-like facade.
Visitors can also step into the phone booth from A Better Tomorrow II to relive the iconic, heart-wrenching performance by the late Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing.
Scene 10: A Better Tomorrow. Tai Kwun
To support emerging homegrown talent and the creative vibrancy of the Hong Kong film industry, Tai Kwun will contribute a proportion of exhibition ticket sales to the Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers.
The exhibition runs until October 5, with regular tickets priced at HK$25 and concession tickets at HK$15.
Address: LG2/F, Police Headquarters Block, Tai Kwun
Anson Luk and Helen Zhong
