A Study On The Narrative Strategy Of The Cross-cultural Adaptation Of Infernal Affairs

Infernal Affairsis a milestone in the history of Hong Kong film.Its significance not only lies in that it saved the film market in the trough of the Hong Kong film,but also lies in that it opened a new narrative mode.Because of this,Infernal Affairs was made into The Departed and Double Face by America and Japan respectively.The success ofInfernal Affairsin cross-cultural communication is unprecedented.The Departed,remade according to InfernalAffairs,has won the recognition of the Hollywood and the world.It can be said thatInfernal Affairs is the first milestone of Chinese film going globally.There are many factors contributing to the success of Infernal Affairs.The most important factor among them is the innovation of narration.The film is the best commercial works and art treasure produced based on the Hong Kong gangster movie creation experience by absorbing the essence of foreign films,and rooting in Chinese traditional Buddhist culture and the local Hong Kong characteristics by screenwriter Siu Fai Mak and Felix Chong.As the Hong Kong gangster movie classic,Infernal Affairsbroke through the stereotype of common Hong Kong gangster movie and made bold innovation in the narrative strategy,suspense and aesthetic style and finally achieved great commercial and artistic success because of its wonderful story.More important is that the film uses a two-way undercover narrative pattern for the first time,and adopts some narrative techniques such as suspense,blank,foreshadowing and outcome skillfully.Both of them make the film more logical,rhythmical and intricate,which can be seen from the well-designed story,the uncertain fate of the characters and the appearance of a rising climax.The innovation of the narrative pattern and structure makes the film become a classic film can be remade,copied and imitated repeatedly.Just because it can be remade,copied in any other country or region on the world,it promotes the appearance of The Departedand Double Face.This thesis mainly focuses on the changes of the narrative strategy during the process of cross-cultural adaptation of Infernal Affairsand probes into the themes and characters,plots and structures,suspense,blank-leaving,foreshadowing,outcome and other narrative techniques of Infernal Affairs,The Departed and Double Face.Besides,it also gives an introduction of the story and its creation.