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A Bittersweet Life - Movie Review

August 13, 2008 – 9:09 pm

Prologue:

I always had a longing for writing about this topic for a long time. But somehow I couldn’t, uptil now. Yes its about the title of this blog. Probably my first movie review too. A Bitterweet Life

Time, as we see, flow swiftly in one direction. We don’t have mighty Sands of Time powers to reverse it and set back things right in least entropy. Nor we possess a Time Machine yet. To put it straight, life is irreversible. The decisions you take are irreversible to an extent. What once done can’t be make more comfortable, it clings to one throughout. One wrong move and you are screwed. Its a Bittersweet life, hence the title of my blog.

Life is a revolution too. One must fight till the bittersweet end. You can’t predict the end but if you will start this then may be the ones after you will be exposed to a better space. Inadvertently every move of yours affect a inch or two every other being around you. The action is rippled through time to reflect on you in some other frame.

Lets get back to my firs movie review - A Bittersweet Life. It has stirred a lots of emotions and thoughts in my mind (I have watched it a year back though). Not a typical fairy tale story but dark and somber movie with gritty feel. It shows the fall of a perfectionist from zenith to nadir. Just a flash of time turned the tides on him.

Introduction:

If you liked Godfather, Taxi Driver and movies like Scarface then this movie is a must watch for you. But don’t think it as a copy of any of these movies. All characters are chosen perfectly and plays an important role. Somewhere a gamer can relate it to Max Payne too. Its an action noir with some amazing cinematography and background score. Never before seen moments and vivid intensity of emotions. Attention to every minute details from character to space and costume makes it a masterpiece.

Count the number of times main protagonist smiles (if you really can). Try to understand the significance of the scene at the very end. These are two questions that will leave you to wanting more and dig up movie analysis at various sites.

This movie is about a man, who thought he was entering heaven but just then he fell into hell. He just wanted to keep faith without harming the girl. But the whole world called him enemy at that moment. “…tell me, why did you do that to me?”. Spoiling the whole movie will be bad so that’s the brief teaser :p

Characters:

The Hound - Pride is what he lives for
Most of all he never endures any attack on his ego. He has a personality that he should pay back the same amount of pain that he suffered from in order to satisfy himself.

The Hound

The Hitman - Heartless killing machine
For him, a murder is not something. He looks like a scholar but he hides his evilness.

The Hitman

The Smuggler - A complicated, gay life
Who taught main protagonist to assemble the gun. He can smuggle anything that money can buy.

The Smuggler

The Killer - Cold-blooded killing machine
Younger brother of The Smuggler, he never shows his feelings on his face. Even in front of the dead body of his brother, he just showed a blank look

The Killer

The Rival - Fist speaks louder than word
He uses his fist instead of his brain. He envies the protagonist. When the protagonist makes a mistake, he shows hostility to him

The Rival

Space:

Skylounge Tree

Skylounge - The protagonist is manager of the hotel after 7 years of servitude to his Boss, for whom rules score higher than relationships. The same hotel is the start and end of movie - black and white. Note the single tree in the middle of Skylounge - La dolca vita

Escape Hallway

Closed factory - a contrast between rough, old interior of the factory and the green forest outside.
Place where the gang captures the protagonist first time him and the unusual unrealistic high ceiling and large door.

Costume:

The Protagonist - The man with black suit

In the beginning a tidy black suit, white dress shirt, omega watch and the classic tie adds up to show his perfectionist character. But as movie goes on, the minimal figure of the black suit starts to show the loneliness of the man who has to fight an irreversible war all by himself.

The Protagonist

The Boss - Rules are what he live for
Silver hair and the bronze skin with the selected outfit portrays him as a stylish boss never seen before.

The Boss

The Girl - Innocent Temptation
The screen emphasizes the bright and vivid youth of her. Her long, black hair is another attraction showing her young and tranquil character as a cellist.

The Girl

The Hound - A Sneak Smile
A scar near his mouth. His looks are already something you never seen before. His short hair and tight pants, long jacket and heels show the sneak character of the villain.

The Rival - Fist speaks louder than word
His suit is similar with the protagonist’s, but his opened satin shirts and patterned shirts show frivolity compared to the protagonists neat figure. His curly hair also adds more character of jealousy and inferiority.

Myung-Gu

The Killer
The long metallic leather coat changes it’s color according to the lighting, which goes with his odd character. Putting a knit cap before aiming a gun adds more character to this new born killer.

The Smuggler
The boss of Russian smugglers always wears a fur coat and buries his face under his sunglasses.

Russian Smuggler Contractors
These two guys brighten up the dark film with their comic touch. Mikhail shows a perfect hippy style with caps and earrings.While Myung-Gu with a ponytail wears baggy clothes and speaks clumsy Russian.

Mikhail

Epilogue:

Personal opinion do digress from person to person. But even then you will find this movie to be strange and beautiful. There is one great memorable escape sequence too. Background score is awesome, one of the best movie OST. Great character detailing and development. Every character captivates your mind. Its an art !

Reference:

http://www.d-o-e-s.com/collection/bittersweet/index0.html and web forums