Dalkomhan insaeng (2005)

Director:

Ji-woon Kim

Writer:

Ji-woon Kim (writer)

Release Date:

1 April 2005 (South Korea)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Music

Tagline:

When doing right goes very, very wrong.

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Shot In The Head | Stabbed | Public Bathroom | Hitman | Business

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Jeong-min Hwang	...	President Baek
Yu-mi Jeong
Ku Jin	...	Min-gi
Hae-gon Kim	...	Weapon smuggler
Roe-ha Kim	...	Mun-suk
Yeong-cheol Kim	...	Mr. Kang (as Kim Young-Chul)
Byung-hun Lee	...	Sun-woo
Gi-yeong Lee	...	Mu-sung
Mu-yeong Lee
Eric Moon	...	Gun Dealer's Brother (as Eric)
Dal-su Oh	...	Myung-gu
Kwang-rok Oh
Min-a Shin	...	Hee-soo
Sang-Jeon Woo

Directed by
Ji-woon Kim

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Ji-woon Kim		writer

Produced by
Yu-jin Lee	....	producer
Jeong-wan Oh	....	producer
Jung-Wan Oh	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Dalparan
Yeong-gyu Jang

Cinematography by
Ji-yong Kim

Film Editing by
Jae-geun Choi

Production Design by
Seong-hie Ryu

Stunts
Doo-hong Jung	....	fight director

Production Companies

• B.O.M. Film Productions Co.

Distributors

• Herald Film Company (2005) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Mars Distribution (2006) (France) (theatrical)
• Shaw Organisation (2005) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Tartan Films (2006) (UK) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• AXN (2007) (Japan) (TV)
• CJ Entertainment (2005) (worldwide) (all media)
• Madman Entertainment (2006) (Australia) (DVD)
• Palisades Tartan (2009) (UK) (all media)
• Palisades-Tartan Acquisitions (2008) (UK) (DVD)
• Splendid Film (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Tartan Video (2006) (UK) (DVD)
• Visual Filmes (2006) (Brazil) (DVD) (TV)

Other Companies

• HFR  dailies
• HFR  digital intermediate

Also Known As:

A Bittersweet Life (International: English title)

Runtime:

120 min | Argentina:120 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival)

Country:

South Korea

Language:

Korean | Russian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Taiwan:R-18 | UK:18 | Ireland:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Sweden:15 | Argentina:18 | Germany:18 | Australia:MA | France:-12 (with warning) | New Zealand:R18 | Finland:K-18 | Brazil:14 | South Korea:18 | Japan:R-15

Filming Locations:

South Korea

Company:

B.O.M. Film Productions Co.

Trivia:

The Korean title "Dalkomhan Insaeng" and the name of the bar "La Dolce Vita" translate to "The Sweet Life". As an ironic touch the International English title is called "A Bittersweet Life".

Quotes:

Sun-woo: Send them away. I have no reason to talk with him.
Mun-suk: C'mon Sun-woo, President Baek is my guest, show some courtesy.
Sun-woo: No, i don't care about courtesy.
Mun-suk: Don't do this to me, you may do this at your own club. Show me some respect.
Sun-woo: To you? You're kidding.

Movie Connections:

References Taxi Driver (1976)

Spectacular-South Korea does it again

This masterpiece comes from the director of Tales of Two Sisters and he delivers an epic tale of revenge.

I can't urge you enough to see this movie. The gun battles are reminiscent of Scarface, the martial arts are gritty and realistic, the poignancy of unrequited love is painful, there is a deep philosophical current that underlies this film, and the camera work is superb-but that's not what carries the movie. The actor who plays the main character is what sets this magnificent movie apart from the trash put out by Hollywood. He's a man's man-sharply dressed in well tailored suits driving in a BMW sedan (like the transporter)through beautiful Seoul (showing what a beautiful, spotless, and vibrant city it is). He reaches the point of no return and his vengeance and determination are a tour de force.

Magnificent. Bravo. South Korean films reign supreme.