A Bittersweet Life
2005
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Synopsis
Kim Sun-woo is an enforcer and manager for a hotel owned by a cold, calculative crime boss, Kang who assigns Sun-woo to a simple errand while he is away on a business trip; to shadow his young mistress, Hee-soo, for fear that she may be cheating on him with a younger man with the mandate that he must kill them both if he discovers their affair.
A Bittersweet Life (2005) is a 1h 59min action feature film by Kim Jee-woon. Kim Sun-woo is an enforcer and manager for a hotel owned by a cold, calculative crime boss, Kang who assigns Sun-woo... Selected for Budapest Film Festival (2021).
Key facts
Cast
Lee Byung-hun, Kim Yeong-cheol, Shin Min-a, Kim Roi-ha, Lee Ki-young, Hwang Jung-min, Eric Mun, Oh Dal-su
Original language
Korean
First release
April 1, 2005 (South Korea)
Filming locations
South Korea
Crew
Screenplay
Kim Jee-woon
Producer
Choi Pyung-ho, Lee Eugene, Oh Jung-wan
Cinematography
Kim Ji-yong
Editing
Choi Jae-geun
Music
Dalpalan, Jang Young-gyu
Special makeup effects
Lee Hee-eun
Trailer
Stills
Reviews
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Festival History
- Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival 2025 - The Master: LEE BYUNG HUN
- Budapest Film Festival 2021
- Mar del Plata International Film Festival 2006 generic
- Melbourne International Film Festival 2006 generic
- Cannes Film Festival 2005 generic
- Stockholm International Film Festival 2005 generic
Titles
| Alternate title | A Bittersweet Life | |
| Alternate title | Dal Kom Han In-saeng |
Releases & classifications
| Theatrical | South Korea | April 1, 2005 |
| Theatrical | Germany | July 29, 2005 |
| Theatrical | United Kingdom | January 20, 2006 |
| Streaming | Ireland | January 20, 2006 |
| Theatrical | Portugal | March 2, 2006 |
| Theatrical | France | March 8, 2006 |
| Theatrical | Greece | April 13, 2006 |
| Theatrical | France | May 8, 2006 |
| Streaming | Russia | November 14, 2022 |
| Classification | Germany | 18 |
| Classification | United Kingdom | 18 |
Versions & editions
| Home video | United Kingdom | April 24, 2006 |
| Home video | Australia | August 18, 2006 |
| Home video | Netherlands | May 3, 2007 |
| Home video | United Kingdom | July 9, 2024 |
Full credits
| Director | Kim Jee-woon |
| Cast | Lee Byung-hun (Sun-woo), Kim Yeong-cheol (Mr. Kang), Shin Min-a (Hee-soo), Kim Roi-ha (Moon-seok), Lee Ki-young (Oh Moo-seong), Hwang Jung-min (Mr. Baek), Eric Mun (Tae-goo), Oh Dal-su (Myeong-goo), Kim Hae-gon (Tae-woong), Kim Han (Se-yoon), Jin Goo (Min-gi), Lee Hang-soo (Chairman Won), Oh Kwang-rok (Gangster), Jeon Kuk-hwan (Chairman Baek), Lee Seung-ho (Mr. Park), Kim Seung-oh (Moo-seong's Subordinate), Lee Han-sol (Moo-seong's Subordinate), Vadym Domashchenko (Mikhail), Sonny (Filipino Gang), Nico (Filipino Gang), Kim Soo-nam (Shoulder Bag), Kang Young-gu (Shoulder Bag), Heo Myeong-haeng (Shoulder Bag), Jeong Goo-jin (Shoulder Bag), Wang Deok-sang (Shoulder Bag), Jang Jae-yong (Recording Studio Engineer), Lee Ahn-gyoo (Recording Studio Senior), Jeon Na-hyeon (So-yeong), Park Jin-woo (Cheol-moon), Woo Sang-jeon (Mr. Seong), Jeong Gye-soon (Grandmother), Jung Yu-mi (Mi-ae), Choi Si-yeon (Mr. Kang's Wife), Lee Jae-ook (Taxi Driver), Ahn Jang-hyeok (Passage Subordinate), Hwang Dong-seok (Passage Subordinate), Kim Pan-seon (Meeting Room Subordinate), Jeong Won-kyeong (Pit Shoulder), Jo Seon-haeng (Mr. Kang's Driver), Kim In-oh (Night Club Employee), Seo Jeong-hee (Lounge Manager), Kim Hyo-hyeon (Bartender), Choi Hyo-hyeon (Bartender), Song Sang-ook (Lounge Male Employee), Kwak Min-ho (Lounge Male Employee), Kim Hee-jin (Lounge Female Employee), Kim Byeong-gook (Lounge New Manager), Hong Eun-mi (Lounge Guest), Kim Jae-ok (Lounge Guest), Ryoo Chang-hoon (Recording Studio Engineer Assistant), Park Jong-min (Recording Studio Male Employee), Lee Kyeong-won (Recording Studio Female Employee), Kim Ji-hoon (Pianist), Yoo Joo-hyeon (Violinist), Lee Ji-hee (Violinist), Song Jae-ha (Viola), Kang Min-hee (Double Bassist), Kwon Ye-ji (Hongdae Club Guest), Park So-jeong (Hongdae Club Guest), Jo Jung-hee (Night Club DJ), Kwon Chae-yeong (Room Lady), Jeon Hye-min (Room Lady), Kim Eun-ji (Room Lady), Jo Seung-ryong (Waiting Room Player), Kim Tae-hee (Waiting Room Player), Yoo Sang-seob (Moon-seok's Subordinate), Kim Dae-yong (Moon-seok's Subordinate), Jeong Yun-Heon (Moon-seok's Subordinate), Baek Dong-hyun (Moon-seok's Subordinate), Yoon Jin-yool (Leg Car), Jang Han-seung (Leg Car), Seo Joon-ha (Leg Car), Jeong Mi-hye (Middle-Aged Woman), Choi Chang-kyun (Mr. Kang's Assistant), Park Seon-woong (Gyeong-pyo), Oh Yoo-jin (Korean Restaurant Employee), Park Seong-gyoon (Shoulder Bag), Kim Jee-woon (Lee Byung-hun's Hand Stand-In (uncredited)) |
| Screenplay | Kim Jee-woon |
| Producer | Choi Pyung-ho, Lee Eugene, Oh Jung-wan |
| Cinematography | Kim Ji-yong |
| Editing | Choi Jae-geun |
| Music | Dalpalan, Jang Young-gyu |
| Production design | Ryu Seong-hie |
| Special makeup effects | Lee Hee-eun |
| Costumes | Kwak Jung-ae |
Additional data: TMDB.
Source: Cinémathèque québécoise, linked catalogue data (CC BY 4.0)
