Before The Departed, There Was Infernal Affairs
Cha Chaan Teng (茶餐廳) - Hong Style Cafe
A Conversation That Surprised Me
I recently met a fellow Canadian who grew up in Vancouver. Though he’s of Caucasian background, Vancouver’s large Chinese-Canadian community shaped much of what he consumed — from food to film.
After years living in China and Hong Kong, he became fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese. I found myself speaking Cantonese with someone who wasn’t ethnically Chinese — something I don’t think I’ve ever done before.
We talked about cha chaan teng (茶餐廳) which are Hong Kong style cafes, food and eventually movies.
Then the debate started: what’s one of the best film of all time?
First, The Departed
The Departed is Martin Scorsese’s Boston-set crime thriller about two moles played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon — one undercover in the Irish mob, one embedded inside the Massachusetts State Police — trying to identify each other before it’s too late.
The film earned Scorsese his long-awaited Oscar for Best Director.
If you haven’t see it, watch the official trailer below
Before That, Infernal Affairs
What many people don’t realize is that The Departed is adapted from the 2002 Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs.
Starring Hong Kong legendary actors Andy Lau and Tony Leung, the original film tells a similar story — but with a pace and emotional tension that feels distinctly Hong Kong.
Tony Leung, whom Western audiences may recognize from Shang-Chi, delivers one of the most restrained and powerful performances of his career.
If you haven’t see it, watch the official trailer below
Two Films. Two Styles.
My new friend has the rare perspective of watching both films without cultural bias.
His verdict? Infernal Affairs is superior.
He argues that the Hong Kong version is tighter, and more psychologically intense — without the excess.
Now obviously I agree with him - Tony Leung is one of my favourite actor of all time!
Watch Both
If you enjoy crime dramas, watch both.
Not to decide which is “better.”
But to see how the same story transforms when told through different cultures.
Sometimes the original hits harder.
