''Closer to Heaven'' (; lit. "My Love by My Side") is a 2009 South Korean film written and directed by

Park Jin-pyo Park Jin-pyo (born 1966) is a South Korean film director and screenwriter. He directed ''Too Young to Die'' (2002), ''You Are My Sunshine (2005 film), You Are My Sunshine'' (2005), ''Voice of a Murderer'' (2007), ''Closer to Heaven (film), Closer ...

, starring

Ha Ji-won Jeon Hae-rim (; born 28 June 1978), better known by her stage name Ha Ji-won () is a South Korean actress. She is best known for the historical dramas '' Damo'' (2003), ''Hwang Jini'' (2006), and '' Empress Ki'' (2013), as well as the melodra ...

and

Kim Myung-min Kim Myung-min (, born October 8, 1972) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his leading roles in the television series '' Immortal Admiral Yi Sun-shin'' (2004), '' White Tower'' (2007), ''Beethoven Virus'' (2008), ''Six Flying Dragons'' ...

Plot

Lee Ji-soo is a twice-divorced funeral director, and no stranger to death or loss. She reunites with old friend Baek Jong-woo when he arranges for funeral services for his deceased mother. Jong-woo has been battling

Lou Gehrig's disease Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease (MND) or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a neurodegenerative disease that results in the progressive loss of motor neurons that control voluntary muscles. ALS is the most com ...

since he was a teenager. The two fall in love and get married. As Jong-woo's symptoms continue to worsen and he begins to lose control over his body, he lashes out at Ji-soo. Despite her hurt, all Ji-soo wants is to stay by his side and hope for a cure.

Cast

as Lee Ji-soo *

as Baek Jong-woo * Nam Neung-mi as Joo Ok-yeon *

Im Ha-ryong Im Ha-ryong (born Im Han-yong on October 31, 1952) is a South Korean actor and comedian. During the 1980s and 1990s, Im was one of Korea's foremost comedians (called "gag men") alongside Shim Hyung-rae and Kim Hyung-gon. As his brand of comedy b ...

as Park Geun-sook, Choon-ja's husband * Choi Jong-ryeol as Ok-yeon's husband *

Shin Shin-ae Shin Shin-ae (; born June 3, 1959) is a South Korean actress and trot singer. She has been loved by the public by appearing in various media, including televisions programs, television dramas, movies, and theater plays. She is known for her re ...

as Jin Hee Mo (Jin-hee's mother) * Im Jong-yoon as Bae Seok-joong *

Im Hyung-joon Im Hyung-joon (born May 10, 1974) is a South Korean actor. Personal life On January 2, 2012, Im married his non-celebrity girlfriend, who is ten years younger than him, at Gimpo Mayfield Hotel. They gave birth to the first child, a son, on Aug ...

as Bae Seok-won * Im Seong-min as Choon-ja * Son Ga-in as Seo Jin-hee * Jang Won-young as Mr. Choi * Hong Seok-yoo as Elder Son *

Kim Yeo-jin Kim Yeo-jin (born June 24, 1972) is a South Korean actress and activist. Kim made her acting debut in the stage play ''What Do Women Live For'' in 1995, and has since remained active in film and television, drawing praise for her supporting roles ...

as Professor Son Young-chan *

Kim Kwang-kyu Kim Kwang-kyu (born January 7, 1941) is a South Korean poet and translator."김광규 " biographical PDF available at: http://klti.or.kr/ke_04_03_011.do# Life Kim was born in Seoul and studied German language and literature at Seoul Nationa ...

as Kook Dong-sik *

Jung Eui-chul Jung Eui-chul (born April 19, 1985) is a South Korean model and actor. Career He made his acting debut in the drama ''Biscuit Teacher and Star Candy'' as a student and gained positive response in 2005 and later landed on many supporting role ...

as Yoo Seung-wook * Son Young-soon as Jong-woo's mother * Yoo Seung-mok as Ex-husband Kim Eun-ho * Kim Young-pil as Jong-woo's friend, Wook-joong *

Kim Young-hoon Kim Young-Hoon (born October 2, 1978) is a South Korean actor. Filmography Film Television series Web series References External links * * * * * 1978 births Living people South Korean male television actors Sout ...

as Jong-woo's friend, Kwan-young * Choi Yo-han as Jong-woo's friend, Jae-ho *

Jeon Su-ji Jeon Su-ji (born 10 November 1983) is a South Korean actress. She is known for her roles in dramas such as ''Designated Survivor: 60 Days'', ''Signal (South Korean TV series), Signal'', ''Sin Don (TV series), Sin Don'' and ''Green Mothers' Club' ...

as Kim Jong-do's wife * Yoo Ji-yeon as Head nurse *

Kang Shin-il Kang Shin-il (born November 26, 1960) is a South Korean actor. Kang graduated from Kyung Hee University with a degree in electronic engineering, but he soon put aside his studies and spent most of his time in Daehangno, Seoul's theater district, ...

as Lee Hak-cheon, Ji-soo's father ( cameo) *

Sol Kyung-gu Sol Kyung-gu (born May 14, 1967) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in ''Public Enemy (2002 film), Public Enemy'' film series, ''Peppermint Candy'', ''Oasis (2002 film), Oasis'', ''Silmido (film), Silmido'', ''Hope (2013 film ...

as Kim Jong-do (cameo) * Song Young-chang as Therapist (cameo) *

Seo Hyo-rim Seo Hyo-rim (; born January 6, 1985) is a South Korean actress. Filmography Television series Film Variety show Music video Awards and nominations References External links * * * * * Living people 1985 births South Korean te ...

as Reporter (cameo)

Release

''Closer to Heaven'' was released in South Korean theaters on 24 September 2009, and it topped the box office chart for 3 consecutive weeks. It was the first

melodrama A modern melodrama is a dramatic work in which the plot, typically sensationalized and for a strong emotional appeal, takes precedence over detailed characterization. Melodramas typically concentrate on dialogue that is often bombastic or exces ...

to surpass the 2 million admissions mark since ''

Maundy Thursday Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday (also known as Great and Holy Thursday, Holy and Great Thursday, Covenant Thursday, Sheer Thursday, and Thursday of Mysteries, among other names) is the day during Holy Week that commemorates the Washing of the ...

'' in 2006. ''Closer to Heaven'' received a total of 2,153,068 admissions at the end of its run, making it the 10th highest grossing film of 2009.

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Closer to Heaven 2009 films 2009 romantic drama films Films directed by Park Jin-pyo 2000s Korean-language films South Korean romantic drama films 2000s South Korean films