Infernal Affairs
Chan Wing Yan, a young police officer, has been sent undercover as a mole in the local mafia. Lau Kin Ming, a young mafia member, infiltrates the police force. Years later, their older counterparts, Chen Wing Yan and Inspector Lau Kin Ming, respectively, race against time to expose the mole within their midst.
Working with a tight budget of $6.4M, the film achieved a modest success with $8.8M in global revenue (+38% profit margin).
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Infernal Affairs (2002) exemplifies carefully calibrated narrative architecture, characteristic of Alan Mak Siu-Fai's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 41 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Parallel establishment: 1991, Wong selects young cadets for undercover work while triad boss Sam plants his own moles in the police academy. The dual infiltration begins, showing both protagonists entering their false lives.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when A drug deal goes wrong when both sides realize there's a mole. During the rooftop confrontation, Ming alerts Sam via phone while Yan reports to Wong. Both organizations discover they've been infiltrated, triggering the cat-and-mouse hunt.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Yan actively commits to identifying Ming, using his position in Sam's organization to hunt the police mole. Ming simultaneously commits to finding Yan. Both cross the threshold from passive survival to active hunting, accepting they must destroy each other., moving from reaction to action.
At 51 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat False defeat: Yan and Ming come face-to-face in the hi-fi store without realizing who the other is. They're mirror images having a brief, ironic conversation. The stakes raise as both realize the mole is extremely close, but neither can identify him yet., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 76 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Wong is killed by Sam's men on the rooftop. Yan's only connection to his real identity dies, and with Wong dead, the evidence of Yan's true identity may be lost forever. The "whiff of death" is literal—Yan's hope of returning to normal life dies with his mentor., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 81 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Ming discovers his true identity through Wong's files and has an epiphany: he wants to be a real cop, not a criminal. Yan realizes he must take direct action to expose Ming and reclaim his identity. Both achieve clarity about who they truly want to be., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Infernal Affairs's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Infernal Affairs against these established plot points, we can identify how Alan Mak Siu-Fai utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Infernal Affairs within the drama genre.
Alan Mak Siu-Fai's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Alan Mak Siu-Fai films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Infernal Affairs takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Alan Mak Siu-Fai filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Alan Mak Siu-Fai analyses, see Infernal Affairs III.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Parallel establishment: 1991, Wong selects young cadets for undercover work while triad boss Sam plants his own moles in the police academy. The dual infiltration begins, showing both protagonists entering their false lives.
Theme
Buddhist dialogue about continuous hell (Infernal Affairs): "The worst of the Eight Hells is called Continuous Hell. It has no time limit, no rest, and continuous suffering." This frames the theme of endless deception and identity imprisonment.
Worldbuilding
Ten years later: Yan is deep in Sam's triad organization, trusted but isolated. Ming has risen in the police force, respected but hollow. Both excel at their false identities while yearning for their real lives. The parallel worlds are established with mirrored loneliness.
Disruption
A drug deal goes wrong when both sides realize there's a mole. During the rooftop confrontation, Ming alerts Sam via phone while Yan reports to Wong. Both organizations discover they've been infiltrated, triggering the cat-and-mouse hunt.
Resistance
The race to identify the moles intensifies. Wong becomes Yan's lifeline and mentor, promising extraction. Sam guides Ming on how to evade detection. Both protagonists navigate the dangerous middle ground, learning they must eliminate their counterpart to survive.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Yan actively commits to identifying Ming, using his position in Sam's organization to hunt the police mole. Ming simultaneously commits to finding Yan. Both cross the threshold from passive survival to active hunting, accepting they must destroy each other.
Mirror World
Yan reconnects with his therapist Dr. Lee, the only person who knows his true identity. She represents the authentic life and love he's denied, embodying the theme of stolen identity and the cost of deception. Their relationship mirrors his yearning for truth.
Premise
The "fun and games" of cat-and-mouse: near-misses in the audio equipment store, phone traces, surveillance games. Both men grow paranoid as they close in on each other. The premise delivers tense parallel investigations with mounting psychological pressure.
Midpoint
False defeat: Yan and Ming come face-to-face in the hi-fi store without realizing who the other is. They're mirror images having a brief, ironic conversation. The stakes raise as both realize the mole is extremely close, but neither can identify him yet.
Opposition
Pressure intensifies on both sides. Sam grows suspicious of everyone. Wong's team closes in on finding Ming. Yan's cover becomes more dangerous. The rooftop confrontations escalate. Both men are exhausted, desperate, and increasingly reckless in their double lives.
Collapse
Wong is killed by Sam's men on the rooftop. Yan's only connection to his real identity dies, and with Wong dead, the evidence of Yan's true identity may be lost forever. The "whiff of death" is literal—Yan's hope of returning to normal life dies with his mentor.
Crisis
Yan processes his darkest moment. He's trapped in the triad forever with Wong dead. Ming simultaneously faces his own darkness: he's helped kill a police superintendent. Both men confront what they've become and the cost of their double lives.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Ming discovers his true identity through Wong's files and has an epiphany: he wants to be a real cop, not a criminal. Yan realizes he must take direct action to expose Ming and reclaim his identity. Both achieve clarity about who they truly want to be.
Synthesis
The finale: Sam is killed. Yan and Ming finally identify each other and confront their mirrored existence. Ming chooses to help Yan by eliminating witnesses, seemingly accepting his role as a real cop. They reach an understanding as mirror images seeking redemption.
Transformation
Final image: Ming betrays and kills Yan in the elevator, choosing his survival over redemption. He walks out as Inspector Lau, accepted by the police. But his face shows hollowness—he's won the game but lost his soul, trapped in continuous hell.