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".
The narration that opens and closes the film are Buddhist parables.
In some alternate posters Byung hun Lee is shown smoking. But, in movie he never smoke.
Byung-Hun Lee and Ku Jin previously starred together in a show All In (2003). Ku Jin played the younger version of Byung-Hun's character.