"Overheard" is potentially the best Chinese film to be screened this summer. This is not simply because it boasts the largest distribution, 1,500 copies on the Chinese mainland and more than 500 copies in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, but for its "golden cast," which includes three of Hong Kong's best actors.

A poster of "Overheard" [people.com.cn]

Starring Lau Ching-Wan (hero of "My Name Is Fame"), Louis Koo (hero of "Election") and Daniel Wu (hero of "Bishonen"), Overheard is a crime thriller in which three police officers are tempted by secrets they overhear while conducting surveillance on a listed company, not knowing that these secrets will lead them down the path of no return.

The film is directed and written by Alan Mak and Felix Chong, former co-creators of Hong Kong box office wonders Infernal Affairs trilogy with Wai Keung Lau (director of "Initial D").

According to the film's producer Derek Yee (director of "One Night in Mongkok"), who is also a renowned director, "Overheard" is truly an ensemble film.

Yee told the Global Times that it was extremely difficult to get the three top actors to work on the same film as they all had many projects and committments.

Lau indisputably has the best acting skills of the three, with Koo and Wu admitting that he was one of the reasons why they had agreed to star in the film.

"I immediately said yes when I saw Lau on the cast," said Wu, who is a self-proclaimed fan of Lau, enjoying his acting style and previous work.

However, Lau does not put himself on such a pedestal. "I do not think of myself as a great actor with fascinating skills. I always feel there is room for improvement."

Following the film's media preview Monday in Beijing, Lau told the Global Times that his character was very different from his previous roles. "The Inspector Leung I played is strong on the outside but actually weak and vacillating on the inside." Lau said that unlike the other two characters, Leung's tragedy was not caused by greed, but loyalty to his friends.