A Bittersweet Life (Dalkomhan Insaeng) (2005) (Korea)

Director: Kim Ji Woon
Cast: Lee Byung Hun, Hwang Jung-min, Shin Min-a, Kim Roeha, Lee Kiyoung, Oh Dalsoo, Kim Young-chul

The official website is here ...
www.bitter-sweet.co.kr/ 

And the trailer (with English subtitles) can be found here ...
see
www.shaw.com.sg/upload/ab...etlife.asf

The film was invited to Cannes Film Festival 2005 ...
see
www.festival-cannes.fr/fi...ition=2005

In the recent Korean Grand Bell Awards , it won the Best Supporting Actor award ... but was nominated for many categories, incl. Best Film, Best Director and Best Actor ... 

While the overall story hinges on revenge, it can also claim to be a story about chaos (in life) (i.e., the unpredictability in life ... can one really control one's life?), or a story about triad, or a story about forbidden love, or a story of betrayal (or being loyal), or a story about admitting mistakes ...

What is commendable?
-- Well, the opening and ending have 2 rather philosophical tales ... which I like 

For the opening,
The disciple saw the branches of the trees swaying and asked the Master, "Is it the branches that is moving? or is it the wind that is moving?"
Without even looking at where he is pointing, the master replied, "That which is moving is your heart and mind!"

For the ending,
The disciple awoke from his sleep crying profusely ... 
The master asked, "Did you have a nightmare?"
The disciple replied, "No ..."
The master asked again, "Then it has to be a very sad dream ..."
The disciple replied again, "No ..."
The master wondered, "Then what was the dream about?"
The disciple answered, "It was one of the best dreams I have had ..."
The master was puzzled, "Then why are you crying?"
The disciple sobbed, "Because it will never be realized ..." 

-- The performance of Lee Byung Hun and Hwang Jung-min
-- Quite "stylish" filming of violence

What is problematic ...
-- As it was originally meant to be a 2 hr 50 min (or so) film, the theatrical version (about 2 hrs) might lack some character development (or plot "convincing") ...
-- So, unless you have come across such stories/behavior, or unless you have come across the way some triads act, or unless you understand how in some society, "loyalty/truth" (i.e., "not lying") is valued, or unless you realize that for many triads, falling in love with your chief's "woman" is doomed, you may not understand what underlies such cruelty, nasty treatment and ultimately, vengeance in the film... 
-- Hence, to some, the film really borders at violence for violence sake ...

Conclusion:
Well, this commercial film will please audience who like to see violence that is filmed rather "stylishly" ... or those who like to see Lee Byung Hun and Hwang Jung-min …