A Bittersweet Life
— Yet another tour de force in a growing trend of Korean cool.”
- Director: Kim Ji Woon
- Korea, 2005
When A Bittersweet Life was screened at Cannes, one journalist compared the film’s inscrutable lead Byung Hun Lee to the 70s Alain Delon.
As you watch the sartorially elegant Lee’s protagonist Sun Woo go about his business early doors in the movie, it’s hard to disagree. However, the chilled liquid of Sun Woo’s self-control starts to evaporate fast when the simple task of tailing the mafia boss’ latest squeeze gets out of hand and even running a classy mob hotel becomes a bloody affair. Fortunately, the dark red stuff just happens to set off nicely the black marble of the décor.
Here, Lee is anything but the charming soldier boy he played in JSA. He’s debonair, driven and when it comes to handling multiple stabbings and gunshot wounds, he’s tough as old boots. He just gets up and gets on with this very Korean ode to stylised violence.
See also:
Inside Man
Spike Lee underscores the ancient truth that all black cops must be cool.
- Originally published: 29 Jan 2007 in Film
La Dolce Vita
This masterpiece of stylish satire, full of memorable images remains nevertheless aloof.
- Originally published: 12 Feb 2007 in Film
Brotherhood [Taegukgi]
The Korean War from a Korean (male) perspective and not a yank in sight.
- Originally published: 28 Jul 2006 in Film
Soldier of Orange
Strong performances and arresting images in this Dutch view of wartime occupation.
- Originally published: 4 Sep 2006 in Film
High Heels (Tacones Lejanos)
A flotsam of images and emotions anchored down by solid acting.
- Originally published: 27 Sep 2007 in Film
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