A Bittersweet Life (2005) - A Review

 

One of my all-time favorite movies!

A Bittersweet Life is a South Korean neo-noir action film released in 2005. It stars Lee Byung-hun, Shin Min-ah, Kim Yeong-cheol, Kim Roi-ha, and Hwang Jung-min. The movie was written and directed by Kim Jee-woon.

Lee Byung-hun as Sun-woo. Excellent performance in this movie.

In A Bittersweet Life, Lee Byung-hun plays Kim Sun-woo, a loyal (and lonely) enforcer for Kang, a crime boss (played by Kim Yeong-cheol). Kang wants Sun-woo to keep an eye on his young girlfriend, Hee-soo (played by Shin Min-ah), who he suspects is cheating on him. Kang tells Sun-woo if he catches her cheating, to either call him or to kill her and her lover. Sun-woo agrees. (Kang and Sun-woo also discuss problems with a rival crime boss's son, Baek Dae-sik (played by Hwang Jung-min).

Hee-soo and Sun-woo eating lunch at the mall. So awkward.

Sun-woo goes to Hee-soo's house, where he brings a gift from Kang. Their interaction is...awkward. He does notice certain things about Hee-soo... The next day, Hee-soo wants to go shopping with him at the mall. They go, and they get to know each other a little. Things are still awkward between them. She goes into a shop to find out the price of a lamp, but leaves without it (it's too expensive). He takes Hee-soo to her music rehearsal, then drops her off. He leaves her house, but then returns to find Hee-soo and her lover! He roughs up the boyfriend and is about to call his boss when he has a change of heart. He tells Hee-soo and her lover that they can never see each other again, and to erase everything that happened between them up until now from their memories. Sun-woo said he would also erase this moment from his memories. The lover agrees and leaves, even though Hee-soo doesn't want him to.

From here, Sun-woo's life turns upside down! You'll have to watch the movie to find out what happens, but it gets crazy!

This movie is so good. The story, the acting, the action, the cinematography are all excellent. A Bittersweet Life takes place in a shadowy world, and the people in it are just as shadowy. Lee Byung-hun gives a great performance as Sun-woo, a lonely, loyal, killing machine who has never been in love. It is cool to see him struggle with his feelings, and how he deals with everything that is going on. He doesn't say much, but he doesn't have to.

The story takes a few twists and turns, and you may be surprised by how it ends. I think the ending is perfect. Though this is a dark movie, there is some comedy in here, too. Of course, the humor is quite dark. Still, funny scenes in a dark serious movie is welcome (some people may not like it in general, though). The soundtrack is really good, too. Orchestral score with a latin-influenced song in there as well.

This movie has some hard-hitting action scenes!

The action in this movie is hard-hitting and bloody. The fights are not Hong Kong-style, they are more rough and tumble. The fights are entertaining, nonetheless! The first fight in the movie is cool and stylish. Writing about the other fights would spoil the movie, but trust me, they are good! There is a lot of gunplay in this film as well. The final shoot out is wild and bloody! This is a movie where the action scenes and the non-action scenes are equally captivating.

I highly recommend watching A Bittersweet Life. It is one of South Korea's best films. If you are getting into Korean cinema, this movie is a must-watch. It is one of my all-time favorite movies. I was always on the search for this movie on DVD back in the day, but I could never find it. I had to watch it another way back then... So, if you are still reading this review: Thank you, and go watch the movie! Now! What are you waiting for? WATCH IT!

Reviewed by David Williams