The undercover film’s theme of surviving on the edge and in the gaps in-between has flourished in the cinema of Hong Kong, a city that has often found itself in a similar in-between position. From New Wave pioneer Man on the Brink to heroic bloodshed classics City on Fire, A Better Tomorrow II and Hard Boiled; from the generational change of superstars in Century of the Dragon to the immensely influential Infernal Affairs; and from the standard setter of Hong Kong-China co-production crime films Protégé to the action blockbuster The White Storm — undercover heroes have been with us all the way. Precariously caught between black and white, shadow and light, evil and justice, they struggle hard to do the right thing. Undaunted by the most spectacular explosions and reticent about their identity, they defiantly live up to the international reputation of Hong Kong cinema as “all too extravagant, too gratuitously wild.”

Tai Kwun’s summer show Undercover Underworld will take you on a journey through these eight films, pursuing the shadows of real Hong Kong undercover cops. The exhibition’s co-curators Sunny Chan and Kristof Van den Troost have reproduced many memorable moments from these films into enticing interactive installations featuring priceless items — manuscripts, awards and trophies — on loan from top filmmakers. In addition, heavyweight artists from the industry (Hong Kong Film Award Best Actor Louis Koo; celebrated directors Tsui Hark, Alan Mak and Alex Cheung; Hong Kong Film Award Best Music recipients Teddy Robin and Peter Kam; director/former police officer Philip Chan) along with real undercover cops, their coaches and psychiatrists, will help separate fact from fiction.

Venue address: Duplex Studio, Tai Kwun, Central