In 'Infernal Affairs,' what is the symbolic meaning of the audio shop as the only 'pure land'? How does the song 'The Forgotten Times' serve as a bond between the two lonely souls and foreshadow their ultimate fate?

1. The Audio Shop – A "Pure Land" in the Concrete Jungle

• Frozen Time: Outside is the high-stakes, fast-moving undercover game; inside the shop, only the unhurriedly spinning turntable moves.
• Pure Sound: Police and triads rely on wiretaps for intelligence; here, sound exists solely for listening, not surveillance.
• Warm, Yellow Lighting: Forms a stark contrast to the cold blue of the police station and the neon of the triads, offering the two protagonists brief "shelter" and "respite".

Thus, the audio shop resembles a "Pure Land" from Buddhist scriptures: within the pervasive corruption of the "Avici" (Infernal Affairs), it preserves the last vestiges of human warmth.

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2. "The Forgotten Times" – The New Destiny of an Old Record

1. Lyrical Imagery

   • "Who is knocking on my window, who is plucking the strings" – subtly echoes the police/triads' "knocking" and "manipulation".
   • "That period of forgotten time, gradually resurfaces in my heart" – corresponds to the two men's memories and longing for their "original identities".

2. Musical Qualities

   • Teresa Teng's gentle yet sorrowful voice creates a stark contrast to the film's overall tense, cold, and severe atmosphere.
   • The "surface crackle" of the old vinyl record intertextually mirrors the characters' inner, unhealable fractures.

3. Timing of Playback

   • Whenever the plot approaches a character's psychological breaking point (Chan Wing Yan's identity hanging by a thread, Lau Kin Ming's desperate desire to cleanse himself), the song plays, acting as an "emotional alarm".

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3. How Two Lonely Souls Connect

• The same song, the same shop, causes these two parallel lines to converge on an emotional level: "Who am I?" → "Who do I want to be?" → "Who I can never be".

They never meet in the shop, yet are "anonymously" embraced by the same melody – their loneliness resonates.

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4. Foreshadowing the Ultimate Fate

1. "Forgotten" and Death

   • The song title directly foreshadows: regardless of victory or defeat, an undercover life will ultimately be swiftly erased by the system, leaving only "forgotten times".

2. The Vinyl's Cycle and the Broken Needle

   • Tonearm lowers – melody begins → Character's hope ignites
   • Tonearm skips out – music abruptly stops → Character's life or ideal abruptly ends
   • Lau Kin Ming's death the moment the elevator doors open at the film's end is precisely like the needle suddenly skipping out of the groove, leaving a phrase forever unfinished.

3. A Duet of Fate

   • The audio shop symbolizes the "yearning for life"; "The Forgotten Times" symbolizes the "inevitability of death".
   • Their simultaneous appearance frames the Buddhist concepts of the "boundless sea of suffering" and the "fleeting moment of bliss", highlighting the theme of "Avici" (Infernal Affairs) – endless reincarnation and torment.

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Summary in One Sentence

The audio shop, with its "retro purity", resists the lies and evil of the Avici world, while "The Forgotten Times" threads the two moles' identity anxiety, existential loneliness, and inevitable tragedy into a single melody: when the needle lifts, the lights go out, and the sound ceases, they ultimately return to nothingness only within the forgotten silence.

In the film Infernal Affairs, the audio shop and the song "The Forgotten Times" carry profound symbolic meanings. They serve not only as a brief sanctuary for the two protagonists but also foreshadow their tragic destinies.

The Audio Shop as a Symbol of the Sole "Pure Land"

The audio shop in Infernal Affairs is portrayed as a unique "pure land," with its symbolism primarily reflected in the following aspects:

1. A Stark Contrast to the "Infernal" Hell: The film's theme revolves around the "Infernal Affairs" (a Buddhist concept of unending hell). Both Lau Kin Ming and Chan Wing Yan are trapped in the quagmire of their dual identities, living on the edge of lies, violence, betrayal, and death. Their worlds are filled with deception, suspicion, and relentless pressure. The audio shop, however, is a space completely isolated from the chaos and sin of the outside world. Here, only pure music and a shared love for art exist, offering a brief respite.

2. A Moment of Authenticity Without Masks: Inside the audio shop, Lau Kin Ming and Chan Wing Yan temporarily shed their undercover personas. They cease to be cop or gangster, becoming simply two ordinary individuals sharing a taste in music. Here, they can communicate sincerely, discuss music, share feelings—without the conflict of identities or clash of interests. This is one of the rare moments in their isolated lives where they can interact as "human beings" rather than as "roles."

3. Longing for Purity and Beauty: Music inherently possesses the power to purify the soul and transcend reality. The pure sound quality played in the shop symbolizes their deep-seated yearning for a pure, beautiful, and peaceful life. This longing is an unattainable luxury in their daily lives saturated with lies and violence, yet it is briefly realized within the shop.

4. A Sanctuary for the Soul: For Chan Wing Yan, the audio shop is the only place where he can find a moment of peace during his long undercover ordeal. Here, he can relax his taut nerves and find solace in the music. For Lau Kin Ming, it represents his attempt to find his "good man" identity and cleanse his guilt, as well as a projection of his inner longing for a tranquil life.

Therefore, the audio shop is the sole "pure land" where the two protagonists can temporarily escape the "infernal hell" and find spiritual solace. It represents purity, authenticity, and the yearning for a better life.

The Connection and Foreshadowing of the Song "The Forgotten Times"

Tsai Chin's "The Forgotten Times" in the film not only connects the lonely souls of Lau Kin Ming and Chan Wing Yan but also profoundly foreshadows their ultimate fate:

1. Connecting Lonely Souls:

   • Shared Taste and Resonance: Both men love this song, indicating a shared sensitivity and resonance with certain emotions deep within. The song's melody and lyrics precisely touch upon the loneliness, loss, and nostalgia for past, better times they experienced as undercover agents.
   • Silent Understanding and Rapport: In the film, they need no words. Their mutual appreciation of the song alone allows them to sense a shared depth within each other. This is a spiritual connection transcending identity and language, offering a sliver of comfort in their respective isolation.
   • Longing for Peace and Authenticity: The song's soothing melody and nostalgic, melancholic lyrics evoke their longing for "the forgotten times"—those moments of peace and authentic life without undercover identities, lies, or killing. This longing represents the softest part of their hearts and embodies their existence as "human beings" rather than mere "tools."

2. Foreshadowing the Ultimate Fate:

   • "Forgotten" Identities and Lives: The song title "The Forgotten Times" directly foreshadows the tragic fate of both men.
     • Chan Wing Yan: His true identity is ultimately "forgotten" or unprovable. He dies as a gangster; his police identity is buried, and his sacrifices for justice are "forgotten" by the world. The normal life and identity he craved remain unrealized.
     • Lau Kin Ming: He tries to "wash clean" and become a "good man," but his past ("the forgotten times") haunts him relentlessly. He can never truly escape the gangster stigma nor fully integrate into the light. His "good man" identity is never fully accepted by society. He is doomed to live forever in the "infernal hell" of self-doubt and guilt; his "good times" will ultimately be "forgotten."
   • A Fateful Tragic End: The song's melancholic tone hints at the inescapable fate of both men. No matter how they struggle, they cannot escape their respective "infernal hells." Chan Wing Yan's death and Lau Kin Ming's mental breakdown and eternal self-imprisonment confirm this tragic outcome. The peace and authenticity they longed for ultimately become "the forgotten times," forever out of reach.
   • Irretrievable Loss: The song also symbolizes their lost innocence, lost normal lives, and lost sense of identity. Like "the forgotten times," these are gone forever, irretrievable.

In summary, the audio shop serves as a fleeting utopia in Infernal Affairs, symbolizing the yearning for purity and beauty. "The Forgotten Times," with its unique melody and lyrics, connects two lonely souls. Through its imagery of "forgottenness," it precisely foreshadows the tragic fate and identity loss that the two protagonists ultimately cannot escape.