Behind the Shadows 私家偵探
Repositioning (in) Hong Kong Cinema
4 Oct 2026 (Sun) • 17:00 • Ritzy Picturehouse
Hong Kong | 2025 | Colour | 103’
In Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles
Dir.: Jonathan Li 李子俊, Chou Man-yu 周汶儒
Cast: Louis Koo 古天樂, Chrissie Chau 周秀娜, Liu Kuan-ting 劉冠廷
Au Yeung Wai Yip (Louis Koo) is a private investigator from Hong Kong who is struggling to find meaning in his work until, one day, three cases cross his desk. In one, a client is after proof that his girlfriend is being unfaithful, but when Au asks to see a picture of the woman in question, he is presented with a photograph of his own wife...
A premise straight out of Alfred Hitchcock’s playbook, co-directors Jonathan Li and Chou Man-yu have also cited the detective writings of Raymond Chandler as inspiration for this neo-noir, cat-and-mouse tale shot on the rain-drenched streets of Kuala Lumpur.
The crime film has always been central to Hong Kong cinema and Behind the Shadows’ playful blend of hard-boiled detective fiction and compelling marriage drama suggests that, as a new generation of filmmakers emerge, the genre remains in safe hands. Produced by Soi Cheang (Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In).
