A Bittersweet Life (2005)
Dalkomhan insaeng (original title)Reference View | Change View
- Not Rated
- 1h 59min
- Action, Crime
- 01 Apr 2005 (South Korea)
- Movie
Things go wrong for a high ranking mobster when he doesn't follow his boss's orders.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- 8 wins & 14 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast
| Lee Byung-hun | ... |
Sun-woo
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| Shin Min-a | ... |
Hee-soo
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| Kim Yeong-cheol | ... |
Mr. Kang
(as Kim Young-chul)
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| Hwang Jung-min | ... |
President Baek
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| Kim Roe-ha | ... |
Moon-seok
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Kim Hae-gon | ... |
Weapon smuggler
(as Hae-gon Kim)
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| Eric Moon | ... |
Gun Dealer's Brother
(as Eric)
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| Oh Dal-su | ... |
Myung-gu
(as Dal-su Oh)
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| Lee Ki-young | ... |
Mu-sung
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| Jin Goo | ... |
Min-gi
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Lee Ahn-Gyoo | ... |
Recording Studio Senior
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Kim Byeong-Gook | ... |
Lounge New Manager
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Kwon Chae-Yeong | ... |
Room Lady
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Ryoo Chang-Hoon | ... |
Recording Studio Engineer Assistant
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Choi Chang-Kyun | ... |
Mr. Kangs Assistant
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Kim Dae-Yong | ... |
Moon-Seoks Subordinate
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Wang Deok-Sang | ... |
Shoulder Bag
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Baek Dong-Hyeon | ... |
Moon-Seoks Subordinate
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Hwang Dong-Seok | ... |
Passage Subordinate
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Kim Eun-Ji | ... |
Room Lady
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Hong Eun-Mi | ... |
Lounge Guest
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Gilbert | ... |
Filipino Gang
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Jeong Goo-Jin | ... |
Shoulder Bag
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| Oh Gwang-Rok |
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Jeong Gye-Soon | ... |
Grandmother
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Heo Myung Haeng |
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Kim Han | ... |
Se-Yoon
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Jang Han-Seung | ... |
Leg Car
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Lee Han-Sol | ... |
Moo-Seongs Subordinate
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Lee Hang-Soo | ... |
Chairman Won
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Kim Hee-Jin | ... |
Lounge Female Employee
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Jang Sun Ho | ... |
Mr. Kangs Secretary
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Jeon Gook Hwan | ... |
Chairman Baek
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Jeon Hye-Min | ... |
Room Lady
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Choi Hyo-Hyeon | ... |
Bartender
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Kim Hyo-Hyeon | ... |
Bartender
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Kim Il-Han | ... |
Waiting Room Prayer
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Kim In-Oh | ... |
Night Club Employee
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Song Jae-Ha | ... |
Viola
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Kim Jae-Ok | ... |
Lounge Guest
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Lee Jae-Ook | ... |
Taxi Driver
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Lee Jae-Wook | ... |
Taxi Driver
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Jang Jae-Yong | ... |
Recording Studio Engineer
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Ahn Jang-Hyeok | ... |
Passage Subordinate
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Jeong-Chang | ... |
Moon-Seoks Subordinate
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Jo Jeong-Hee | ... |
Night Club Dj
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Seo Jeong-Hee | ... |
Lounge Manager
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Son Jeong-Min | ... |
Moon-Seoks Subordinate
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Lee Ji-Hee | ... |
Violinist
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Park Jin-woo | ... |
Cheol-Moon
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Yoon Jin-Yool | ... |
Leg Car
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Park Jong-Min | ... |
Recording Studio Male Employee
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Yoo Joo-Hyeon | ... |
Violinist
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Choi Joon-Beom | ... |
Moon-Seoks Subordinate
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Seo Joon-Ha | ... |
Leg Car
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Ji Joong-Hyeon | ... |
Moon-Seoks Subordinate
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Jo Jung-Hee | ... |
Night Club Dj
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Yang Kang-Yeon | ... |
Moon-Seoks Subordinate
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Tae-hee Kim |
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Jeon Kuk-Hwan | ... |
Chairman Baek
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Lee Kyeong-Won | ... |
Recording Studio Female Employee
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Park Seong Kyun | ... |
President Baeks Aide
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Mu-yeong Lee |
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Seo ji-oh Lee | ... |
Moon Seoks Subordinate
(as Seo Ji Oh)
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Seung-Ho Lee | ... |
Mr. Park
(as Lee Seung-Ho)
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Jeong Mi-Hye | ... |
Middle-Aged Woman
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Kang Min-Hee | ... |
Double Bassist
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| Kwak Min-ho | ... |
Lounge Male Employee
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Song Min-Seok | ... |
Moon-Seoks Subordinate
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Jeong Myeong-Gyoo | ... |
Moon-Seoks Subordinate
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Heo Myeong-Haeng | ... |
Shoulder Bag
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Jeon Na-Hyeon | ... |
So-Yeong
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No Nam-Seok | ... |
Moon-Seoks Subordinate
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Nico | ... |
Filipino Gang
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Kim Pan-Seon | ... |
Meeting Room Subordinate
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Kim Roi-Ha | ... |
Moon-Seok
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Woo Sang-jeon | ... |
(as Sang-Jeon Woo)
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Song Sang-Ook | ... |
Lounge Male Employee
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Yoo Sang-Seob | ... |
Moon-Seoks Subordinate
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Jo Seon-Haeng | ... |
Mr. Kangs Driver
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Park Seon-Woong | ... |
Gyeong-Pyo
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Park Seong-Gyoo | ... |
Moon-Seoks Subordinate
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Park Seong-Gyoon | ... |
Shoulder Bag
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Jo Seung-Ryong | ... |
Waiting Room Player
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Choi Si-Yeon | ... |
Mr. Kangs Wife
(as Choi Si-Yeong)
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Park So-Jeong | ... |
Hongdae Club Guest
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Sonny | ... |
Filipino Gang
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Oh Dal Soo | ... |
Myung Goo
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Kim Soo-Nam | ... |
Shoulder Bag
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Kim Su-Nam | ... |
Back Shoulder
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Yoon Jung Sub | ... |
Moon-seok's subordinate
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Park Sun-Woong | ... |
Kyung-Pyo
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| Park Sung-kyun | ... |
Back Shoulder
(as Park Sung-Kyun)
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| Kim Sung-oh | ... |
Oh Mu-sung's Subordinate
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Vadim | ... |
Mikhail
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Domashchenko Vadym | ... |
Russian weapon smuggler
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Jeong Won-Kyeong | ... |
Pit Shoulder
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Kwon Ye-Ji | ... |
Hongdae Club Guest
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Oh Yoo-Jin | ... |
Korean Restaurant Employee
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Jeong Yoon-Heon | ... |
Moon-Seoks Subordinate
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Lee Gi Young | ... |
Oh Moo Seong
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Kang Young-Gu | ... |
Shoulder Bag
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| Jung Yu-mi | ... |
Mi-ae
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Directed by
| Kim Jee-woon | ||
Written by
| Kim Jee-woon | ... | (screenplay) (as Jee-woon Kim) |
| Kim Jee-woon | ... | (screenwriter) (as Kim Jee Woon) |
| Kim Jee-woon | ... | (written by) |
| Dong-Cheol Kim | ... | (character created by: A Bittersweet Life) |
Produced by
| Joon-hwan Choi | ... | executive producer |
| Lee Eugene-I | ... | producer |
| Kim Jung-Hwa | ... | line producer |
| Oh Jung-wan | ... | executive producer / producer (as Jeong-wan Oh) / producer (as Oh Jung-Wan) |
| Eugene Lee | ... | producer |
| Choi Pyung-Ho | ... | producer |
| Lee Yoo-Jin | ... | producer |
Music by
| Dalpalan | ... | (as Dalparan) / composer |
| Young-gyu Jang | ... | (as Yeong-gyu Jang) / composer / original music composer (as Jang Young-Gyu) / score composer (as Jang Young-Gyu) |
Cinematography by
| Jung Hae-Ji | ||
| Kim Ji-yong | ||
| Yoon Joo-Hwan | ||
Editing by
| Jae-geun Choi | ||
Editorial Department
| Jang Yeong Gyu | ... | music editor |
| Jae-Min Han | ... | film telecine |
| Yong-gi Lee | ... | colorist |
Production Design by
| Ryu Seong-hie | ||
Art Direction by
| Ryu Seong Hee | ||
| Yang Hong Sam | ||
| Ryoo Seong-Hee | ||
| Ryu Seong-hie | ||
Costume Design by
| Jo Sang-gyeong | ||
Makeup Department
| Kim Do-hee | ... | hair stylist / makeup department (as Kim Do Hee) / makeup |
| Lee Hee-Eun | ... | special effects makeup artist |
| Hee Eun Lee | ... | special makeup effects artist |
Production Management
| Choi Hyeong-Ryeol | ... | production department |
| Kim Jae-Hoon | ... | production department |
| Kim Min-Suk-Iv | ... | production department |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Lee So-Yeong | ... | assistant director |
Art Department
| Yang Hong-Sam | ... | production designer / set design |
| Han Jae-Min | ... | colorist |
| Kwak Jung-Ae | ... | costume design |
| Cho Sang Kyung | ... | costume designer |
| Cho Sang-Kyung | ... | costume design |
| Ryoo Seong-Hee | ... | production designer / set design |
| Ryu Seong-Hie | ... | production design |
| Lee Yong-Gi | ... | colorist |
Sound Department
| Roberto Cappannelli | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Kim Kyung-Tae | ... | production sound mixer |
| Choi Tae-young | ... | sound |
Special Effects by
| Jung Do-ahn | ... | special effects |
Visual Effects by
| Jung Do-an | ... | visual effects (as Jung Do An) |
| Jay Seung Jaegal | ... | vfx technical director |
| Wook Kim | ... | visual effects supervisor |
Stunts
| Jung Doo-hong | ... | fight director |
| Jung Doo-Hong | ... | fight choreographer |
| Ji Jung-Hyeon | ... | stunts |
| Heo Myeong-Haeng | ... | fight choreographer |
| Heo Myung-Haeng | ... | martial arts department / stunt |
| Yoo Sang-Seob | ... | car stunts |
| Yoo Sang-seob | ... | car stunts |
| Yoo Sang Seob | ... | stunt coordinator |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Sung-min Ha | ... | first assistant camera: "b" camera |
| Jung Hae-Ji | ... | lighting |
| Shin Sang-Yeol | ... | gaffer / lighting |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Kwak Jung-Ae | ... | costume department |
Script and Continuity Department
| Kim Jee-woon | ... | scriptwriter (as Jee-woon Kim) |
Additional Crew
| Richard Lormand | ... | publicist: international |
| Kim Jee-woon | ... | introduction lee bying-hun hand: stand-in (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- CJ Entertainment (presents)
- B.O.M. Film Productions Co.
- CJ Venture Investment
- Centurion Technology Investment
- Ilshin Capital Investments
- Nova Media (Korean version)
Distributors
- Shaw Organisation (2005) (Singapore) (theatrical)
- Bear Entertainment (2005) (South Korea) (DVD)
- Mars Distribution (2006) (France) (theatrical)
- Prooptiki (2006) (Greece) (theatrical)
- Tartan Films (2006) (United Kingdom) (theatrical) (subtitled)
- Madman Entertainment (2006) (Australia) (DVD) (subtitled)
- Splendid Film (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
- AXN (2007) (Japan) (tv)
- Key Films (2007) (Italy) (DVD)
- A-Film Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- Content Zone (2011) (South Korea) (Blu-ray)
- A Contracorriente Films (2012) (Spain) (Blu-ray)
- Splendid Film (2012) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- StudioCanal (2019) (France) (Blu-ray)
- Cai Chang International (2020) (Taiwan)
- The Jokers Films (2021) (France)
- Blue Media Times (2022) (China) (video)
- Capella Film (2022) (Russia)
- Twin Co. Ltd. (2022) (Japan)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2022) (Australia)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2022) (New Zealand)
- Blue Finch Films Releasing (2023) (Ireland) (subtitled)
- Blue Finch Films Releasing (2023) (United Kingdom) (subtitled)
- Divo (2025) (India) (India, 2025) (Exclusive - Digital Rights, video)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- CJ E&M Film Financing & Investment Entertainment & Comics (comic book publisher)
- CJ E&M Film Financing & Investment Entertainment & Comics (funding)
- Formula Comics Entertainment (funding)
- HFR (dailies)
- HFR (digital intermediate)
- Seoul Film Commission (location support)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Kim Sun-woo is a manager for a hotel and an enforcer for the hotel's owner: a cold, calculating crime boss. Sun-woo is assigned to a seemingly simple errand while his boss is on a business trip. He's to shadow his boss's young mistress, Heesoo, whom the boss suspects may be cheating with another, younger man. Sun-woo is mandated to kill them both if he discovers an affair, but he decides to spare their lives... at his own expense Written by Karunafan |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | When doing right goes very, very wrong. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| 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". See more » |
| Goofs | Toward the end of the film, when Kim Sun-woo is walking down the corridor searching for his former boss, a guard sitting and reading a newspaper gets up to stop him. Kim Sun-woo shoots him but his gun is not pointed at the guard. Rather, it is clearly pointed at the wall where fake blood appears after the shot like a paint gun. See more » |
| Movie Connections | References La Dolce Vita (1960). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Red Lounge See more » |
| Crazy Credits | At the end of the credits, the sign above the bar that says "La Dolce Vita" is seen exploding. See more » |
| Quotes |
Sun-woo:
One late autumn night, the disciple awoke crying. So the master asked the disciple, "Did you have a nightmare?" "No." "Did you have a sad dream?" "No," said the disciple. "I had a sweet dream." "Then why are you crying so sadly?" The disciple wiped his tears away and quietly answered, "Because the dream I had can't come true." See more » |