COLLECTOR'S CRYPT - A BITTERSWEET LIFE (SECOND SIGHT FILMS 4K UHD)
Part of being a cinephile is that you’re constantly on the search for new films. Not so much “new” in the sense of recency, but “new” in terms of new to you as a viewer. Oftentimes that means going backwards and combing through the catalogs of films released during and before our own lifetimes. Horror fans in particular know this all too well, as many of us yearn and even put on a pedestal films from prior decades such as the 70s, 80s, and 90s. For the true believers in macabre cinema, going backward is a way to understand the genre’s current state and how we arrived there. This is not unique to horror, and in fact, could be applied to pretty much any genre by expanding the scope to include not just domestic, but international releases as well. Going backward can enlighten you to novel changes in formula that would later be iterated upon, which very much may be the case in Kim Jee-woon’s A Bittersweet Life. Now with a new dual-disc 4K UHD and Blu-Ray release as well as their signature Limited Edition packaging, is this crime thriller a worthwhile trip into the early 00s of South Korean cinema?
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
A loyal gangster falls foul of his gang when he’s assigned to keep watch over the young mistress of his crime boss. Things take a violent and bloody turn when he is unable to carry through on an order to dispatch the girlfriend and her new lover.
HOW IS IT?
Sometimes a movie comes out of nowhere and completely blows you away. A movie that engages you from the very first frame, and doesn’t let its grip on you loosen until the credits start to roll. One of the most exciting things about being a film fan, regardless of the genre is that sense of awe when you see an amazing film for the first time. That sentiment is multiplied when it is a film you had never expected to captivate you, and that is probably the best way to begin describing Kim Jee-woon’s “A Bittersweet Life”. A South Korean gangster thriller that is familiar in its use of genre tropes, but wholly unique in its ability to surprise you. “A Bittersweet Life” is a grounded film where the violence feels real and consequential and the bleak worldview is cut so elegantly with shimmers of hope and which has elements that have had huge influences on some of the best action movies of the last 15 years. While it is a shame it took us this long to see “A Bittersweet Life”, we are so glad that we have.
“A Bittersweet Life” is at its core a gritty and violent neo-noir gangster movie, and doesn’t pretend to be much else with an opening that lets the audience know this movie is going to be bloody. Sun-woo is the top man for President Kang, who has an odd request; watch his young girlfriend, Hee-soo to see if she’s being unfaithful while he is out of town. To make things more complicated, Sun-woo kills another gang’s men at the start of the movie, and they want their revenge. With this initial setup, we are treated to a host of familiar gangster tropes, but in a uniquely South Korean way. The characters here are not like those of the later John Wick, but there are certainly similarities in terms of story and tone. Whereas “A Bittersweet Life” is more concerned with the human conflict of betrayal and revenge, Wick is more watered down by replacing human connection with outrageous choreography. This is not a knock on Wick so much as it is a point of reference for how Kim Jee-woon’s film gave way to one of the biggest action franchises of the last 20 years. What makes “A Bittersweet Life” so compelling is that nothing ever becomes so outlandish you question the integrity of the world. Sure, Sun-woo takes a beating but is reasonably injured and affected. The attention to narrative detail here is impressive as it keeps the script from ever using convenience as a crutch to explain difficult choices. Such as how Sun-woo “revives” himself only makes sense because of the dirt being wet from the immense amounts of rain. It’s a small thing, but an example of how precise and invested the film is in not becoming a caricature of itself.
In tandem with a gripping story is some bone-crunching fight scenes. The choreography is fast, but not so much so that you can’t appreciate the spectacle, and certain scenes like the escape scene where Sun-woo steals a car are beyond impressive on a stunt level. Hyper-violent isn’t the best label to apply here, but that doesn’t mean that “A Bittersweet Life” skimps on the bloodshed. Keeping in mind the grounded nature of the film, when people get shot here it isn’t just a flesh wound. Parts of heads blown off, hands crunched, and all matters of mayhem are peppered in at just the right times and amounts to keep you invested without feeling fatigued. Some of this is also due to how great the film looks and sounds. The cinematography reminds you of a nighttime version of True Romance with excellent use of the cityscapes to show the glamor and underbelly of this criminal underworld. The soundtrack is also a lot of fun and marries a diverse array of genres from Latin Flamenco to more orchestral and melancholy melodies in the film's slower moments. All in all, “A Bittersweet Life” is an absolute treasure of a film that is a “must-watch” for fans of Michael Mann and Tony Scott's style of action, albeit with a positively awesome Korean twist.
HOW DOES IT LOOK?
It is no secret that Second Sight is one of our favorite labels here at the crypt, and this release of “A Bittersweet Life” is just another prime example of why. This 4K restoration is courtesy of the Korean Film Archive as the preluding title card states, “The film…was digitally scanned and color graded in 4K by the Korean Film Archive under the supervision of director Kim Jee-woon in 2021, using the 35mm original picture negative and digital sound file acquired in 2010 and 2018 respectively.” Presented in 3840 x 2160p with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, Second Sight has added the Dolby Vision UHD on top of that previous work. Given this was a first-time watch, it is hard to compare it to previous releases or prints, but it can be said that this looks great, especially with the added Dolby Vision elements. They enhance much of the darker city scenes while giving the lights more pop in contrast. The image overall is a bit cloudy, but that seems to be more aesthetic than restoration issues. Images from this release are used throughout the review and below.
HOW DOES IT SOUND?
Given the same archival and original elements were used for the print as well as the sound, it is safe to say that things sound as best as they possibly can for this release. The only audio option included is a DTS-HD 5.1 audio track in Korean with English subtitles. The 5.1 mix gets a good workout considering how much action is packed into some sequences, in particular the final shootout, but that isn’t the only standout here. The eclectic and fitting soundtrack is a combination of classical movie orchestral themes with hints of some more playful, almost Randy Newman-esque melodies and in certain scenes a flair of the Flamenco. It all sounds great on your home surround system and has a great balance of dialogue, music, and diegetic sound.
ANYTHING SPECIAL?
Second Sight isn’t just one of the best labels out there because of their attention to detail with their transfers, but also because of the plentiful and generous supplemental features included. Their Limited Edition set is another work of art in a thick, rigid outer slipcase with a dual 4K UHD and Blu-Ray case and a booklet of essays with lobby cards. The first feature we watched from the disc was one of the archival ones from a previous release Tell Mey Why? This 21-minute Q&A style interview sees various members of the cast and crew asking questions to Director Kim Jee-woon about certain directorial and narrative choices. Some of the questions range from silly like star Lee Byung-hun asking why he wore a different hairstyle and glasses to the premiere of the film at Cannes, to more serious inquiries like why he ends the film with Sun-woo shadowboxing in the mirror. The former answer had more to do with Kim Jee-woon’s sensitivity to bright screens so he brought the glasses, as for the ending of the film, this was intended to highlight the tragedy of Sun-woo’s story by showing the wasted potential. It’s a fascinating way to ask questions, and insightful about how those working on the film viewed the choices made.
The other feature we had to check out is the 120-page booklet enclosed, which is exclusive to the Limited Edition version. If you are not reading these, you’re missing one of the best parts of the Second Sight experience. These essays offer academic lenses into the meaning, historical context, and criticism of films that often do not get recognized as much or as often. The first essay from Associate Professor Daniel Martin comes to similar conclusions as we did in our review of how pervasive the influence of this film is. It also highlights how trying to box it into a genre like “neo-noir” or “action-thriller” really doesn’t do its service for the complexity and genre-bending it displays. Comparisons are drawn to the most famous of South Korean revenge films, Park Chan-wook’s Oldboy, but draws a distinction with how “A Bittersweet Life” is much less over-the-top and more reflective of Korean gangsters rather than just a straight-up revenge movie. A full list of special features is listed below:
Special Features
Dual format edition including both UHD and Blu-ray with main feature and bonus features on both discs
A new presentation featuring additional restoration work and UHD Dolby Vision grade by Second Sight Films
New scene-specific audio commentary with Director Kim Jee-woon and film academic Areum Jeong
New audio commentary by Pierce Conran and James Marsh
Audio commentary with Director Kim Jee-woon and Actors Kim Young-chul and Lee Byung-hun
Audio commentary with Director Kim Jee-woon, Director of Photography Kim Ji-y, and Set Designer Yoo Seong-hee
Making of A Bittersweet Life with optional commentaries
Archive featurettes: Art; Music; Sound; Action; Gun Smith; Special Art; Special Effects; CG; Tell Me Why; A Bittersweet Life in Cannes
Deleted and Alternate Scenes with optional commentary
Music Videos
Teaser, Trailer, and TV Spot
Limited Edition Contents
Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Michael Bolland
120-page book with new essays by Dr Lindsay Hallam, Rich Johnson, Michael Leader, Daniel Martin, and Alison Peirse
6 collectors' art cards
LAST RITES
“A Bittersweet Life” is one of the most outstanding surprises to ever come into the crypt. While it isn’t “horror”, the crunchy violence and top-tier technical production make it a necessary film for anyone who considers themselves a student of action and exploitation films. The Limited Edition package from Second Sight doesn’t disappoint and continues to prove why their releases are essential for collectors.
THE GORY DETAILS
Thank you to the fine fiends over at AIM Publicity and Second Sight Films for providing a review copy for the crypt! Possessor is available NOW and can be purchased via Second Sight Direct!
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