This conclusion to the blockbuster Hong Kong crime series is a fitting farewell to the trilogy, with an all-star cast headed by Andy Lau, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Anthony Wong and Eric Tsang Chi-Wai (Men Suddenly in Black, in MIFF this year). Charged with intrigue, double-crosses and an atmosphere of mutual suspicion between the police and triad gangs, Infernal Affairs III picks up where the first film left off.

It's 2004, eight months after the murder of triad mole Yan (Tony Leung Chiu-wai). Ming (Andy Lau), a police mole, has been reinstated on the force as a senior inspector, but he cannot relax as the meteoric rise of new star Yeung (Leon Lai) catches his inquisitive eye. Suspecting that the new hotshot could be from the triads, Ming starts a clandestine investigation into Yeung, but he soon finds himself being shadowed by a mysterious cripple, Shen.

Moving the action between 2001 and 2004, Infernal Affairs III builds a palpable level of tension and intrigue, with its labyrinthine plot and meticulously drawn characters sending the final chapter of this trilogy off with a rush.

D Andrew Lau, Alan Mak P Andrew Lau, Gao Feng Jun S Alan Mak, Felix Chong WS Media Asia Distribution Ltd. L Cantonese w/English subtitles TD 35mm/Col/2003/118mins

Andrew Lau was born in 1960. Films include: Bullets of Love (2001), The Park (2003), Infernal Affairs II (MIFF 2004, co-dir).Alan Mak was born in 1965. Films include: Final Romance (2001), Stolen Love (2001), Infernal Affairs (MIFF 2003, co-dir).