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Life just isn't fair. Some people have it all, others have nothing. It's always disappointing when you don't get what you want, but nobody can have everything. It's more depressing when somebody wants something so pure and beautiful, but by nature and circumstances he simply can't. It's pure tragedy when a man's punished for doing one good thing.
A Bittersweet Life is such a tragedy that hinges entirely on that simple premise: a man secretly yearns for something he can't have, and pays the price for disobedience. The man in question is Sun-woo Kim, a mob enforcer who's loyal, professional, gentlemanly, and can still kick some serious butt when needed. He's tasked with checking up on his boss' mistress, who's suspected of having an affair. And she is. Problem is, Sun-woo has feelings for her too, and faces the terrible decision to "deal" with her and her lover, or spare them.
As you may surmise, he picks the latter decision, and it costs him. The last half of the film dives into the same dark, violent revenge-thriller territory that Korean cinema is known for. Sun-woo endures incredible pain and torment, before rising back up and getting payback one body at a time. It all culminates in a pretty major shootout, although the greatest joy of watching this film is less in the climax as it is the build-up to get there.
It surprises me how many reviewers complain about the "weak" story. I think it's one of the strongest, mostly because it's all focused on the character. Nearly half of the movie is devoted to following the main character and the twisty events that lead to the big rampage, and nearly every scene shows you who he is and elicits the necessary sympathy for the tough decisions he makes. Sun-woo is a strong character because he exudes so many heroic traits (including a sense of chivalry), but he wins sympathy because he suffers through no fault of his own (other than denying the truth, perhaps). With so much pathos set up, the film becomes filled with a soul and spirit of its own, giving it the poetic tone and weight it needs to make the action punchy and the drama significant. In essence, a perfect marriage of substance and style. Best of all, just about all of these strengths are achieved through visuals (via performances, cinematography, editing, plot) than through exposition. Yes, this is a film that shows more than it tells, and it's phenomenally captivating that way.
Through this story, the film offers some very subtle themes concerning karma. The whole thing is about a man suffering because he made one bad move (or rather, he wanted one beautiful thing but mucked it up so bad). This is a movie built on solid action and reaction, and all subplots come in full circle. It's a hellish journey that brings a seemingly-perfect and invincible hero to his knees. As the title promises, the film juxtaposes beauty with brutality, offering a tale as bittersweet as life itself.
This story is captured with exquisite photography--camera framing and movement is often superb and paints very strong images. Editing is perfect--every shot is carefully trimmed and connected to carry the story through its visual prowess. Acting is top-notch: Byung-hun Lee is perfectly nuanced and sympathetic as Sun-woo, and every other player is no less effective. Writing is good, especially since the film keeps the dialogue minimal and lets the story and visuals speak for itself. This production uses very real-looking locales, sets, props, and costumes. Music is pretty nice.
To me, this is one of the prime examples of how strong character-building can elicit just the right sympathy for a more effective payoff. It's not as batty as OldBoy, not as action-packed as Kill Bill, not as intense as I Saw the Devil, but I believe A Bittersweet Life achieves the best balance of storytelling and action, thanks to its focus on character. For that reason, and because it is such a bittersweet experience, I can't recommend this film enough.
5/5
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