No discussion about Hong Kong gangster films from the 1980’s would be complete without Wong Kar-wai directorial debut. The most commercially successful film in Wong’s career (until 2013’s The Grandmaster), As Tears Go By tells the story of Wah (Andy Lau), a tough, hot-blooded gangster who spends most of his time keeping his reckless best friend Fly (Jacky Cheung) out of trouble. However, when he falls for Ngor (Maggie Cheung), he begins having second guesses about his way of life. Working closely with cinematographer Andrew Lau, Wong began to shape the distinct visual style that would make him a world-renowned auteur with this film, infusing poetic imageries and memorable dialogue into a violent, gritty crime drama. This film’s influence on contemporary Hong Kong gangster films can still be seen even two decades after its release.

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