Scenes from Hong Kong's classic undercover films, from Infernal Affairs to Man on the Brink, on display at Tai Kwun
The meticulous reconstructions of noteworthy scenes from eight crime films, such as Infernal Affairs and A Brighter Tomorrow, have been rebuilt across the halls of Tai Kwun's Block 01 for the 'Undercover Underworld' exhibition, which pays homage to the brilliance of local filmmaking while offering visitors a wistful and immersive experience.
Presented in association with the Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers, the exhibition was curated by film director Sunny Chan Wing-san and Kristof Van den Troost, Assistant Professor of the Centre for China Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Timothy Calnin, Director of Tai Kwun Arts, explained the decision to focus on classic crime films. 'After paying tribute to the city's neon signage and vibrant popular music in previous summers, it was a natural extension to celebrate the world of Hong Kong cinema, which at its peak was rivalled in output only by Hollywood and Bollywood,' he said. 'What makes 'Undercover Underworld' particularly fitting for Tai Kwun is that thousands of real-life police dramas passed through these gates and cellblocks.'
It also reflects a common theme in Hong Kong films. 'The undercover agent, often faced with difficult moral dilemmas and torn by conflicting loyalties, has been a staple of crime dramas here for nearly half a century,' Van den Troost said.
The exhibition was curated by director Sunny Chan Wing-san (right) and Kristof Van den Troost, Assistant Professor of the Centre for China Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Photo: Tai Kwun
The intoxicating atmosphere of the exhibition showcases the inner turmoil of an undercover agent and instils an otherworldly sense of pride in its subjects and their work.
One display features an iconic scene from the multi-award-winning Infernal Affairs trilogy, showcasing the room where Tony Leung and Kelly Chen's characters have a psychiatry consultation. The set has been reconstructed with such perfection that you could almost hear the sighs and reflections from Leung during his role as an undercover police officer. It was this very film that proved Hong Kong's film industry worthy of global accolades: Warner Bros' The Departed – the licensed English-language remake of Infernal Affairs – won Best Picture at the Academy Awards in 2007.
Scene 6 of 'Undercover Underworld' - 'Psychological Dilemma'. Photo: Tai Kwun
In the entrance hall, pages of directors' scripts from select films are flipped to the most iconic scenes, recognisable to any Hong Kong film buff. In the reproduction of the Chinese restaurant from John Woo's Hard Boiled, the labels on the tea are even scribbled in with the feckless attitude of an overworked waiter in the 1980s.
Another display showcases the detective's den from the set of Man on the Brink. Conspicuous strings on a memo board interlace to shed light on the clever mind behind its workings. A typewriter, piles of tapes, and stacks upon stacks of well-read documents rest on rusted metal desks typical of the time. An interview with a former undercover agent plays in the background, a man who has lived life on the brink himself.
The detective den from the film 'Man on the Brink'. Photo: Tai Kwun
Still, this is no match for the stupendous display that is two cars suspended in mid-air, crashing through the grand window of a cathedral-like structure. One is greeted by pandemonium: a flurry of bricks and glass fragments dot the air above, as if the collision could suddenly resume at any moment. The red vintage vehicle even has a handbag slumped in the front seat.
The exhaustive displays of 'Undercover Underworld' will enlighten visitors about the golden age of Hong Kong's undercover films. The exhibition runs from August 1 to October 5. Regular tickets cost HK$25, with concession tickets priced at HK$15. Children aged 4 or below enjoy free admission. Tickets can be purchased through Klook, whereas limited tickets are available for on-site purchase at G/F, Block 01, Police Headquarters Block, Tai Kwun.
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