Closer to Heaven (film)

Closer to Heaven (Korean: 내 사랑 내 곁에; RR: nae sarang nae gyeote; lit. 'My Love by My Side') is a 2009 South Korean romantic drama film written and directed by Park Jin-pyo, starring Ha Ji-won and Kim Myung-min.^[2][3][4][5]

Closer to Heaven
Theatrical poster
Hangul	내 사랑 내 곁에
RR	Nae sarang nae gyeote
MR	Nae sarang nae kyŏt'e
Directed by	Park Jin-pyo
Written by	Park Jin-pyo
Produced by	Lee Eugene
Starring	Ha Ji-won Kim Myung-min
Cinematography	Kim Tae-gyeong
Edited by	Kang Kyeong-hwa
Music by	Park Ki-heon
Distributed by	CJ Entertainment
Release date	24 September 2009 (2009-09-24)
Running time	121 minutes
Country	South Korea
Language	Korean
Budget	US$3,300,000
Box office	US$13,301,443[1]

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 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

• Ha Ji-won as Lee Ji-soo
• Kim Myung-min as Baek Jong-woo
• Nam Neung-mi as Joo Ok-yeon
• Im Ha-ryong as Park Geun-sook, Choon-ja's husband
• Choi Jong-ryeol as Ok-yeon's husband
• Shin Shin-ae as Jin Hee Mo (Jin-hee's mother)
• Im Jong-yoon as Bae Seok-joong
• Im Hyung-joon 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 as Professor Son Young-chan
• Kim Kwang-kyu as Kook Dong-sik
• Jung Eui-chul 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 as Jong-woo's friend, Kwan-young
• Choi Yo-han as Jong-woo's friend, Jae-ho
• Jeon Su-ji as Kim Jong-do's wife
• Yoo Ji-yeon as Head nurse
• Kang Shin-il as Lee Hak-cheon, Ji-soo's father (cameo)
• Sul Kyung-gu as Kim Jong-do (cameo)
• Song Young-chang as Therapist (cameo)
• Seo Hyo-rim 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.^[6] It was the first melodrama to surpass the 2 million admissions mark since Maundy Thursday in 2006.^[7] 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.^[8]

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Recipient	Result
2009	46th Grand Bell Awards	Best Actor	Kim Myung-min	Won
		Popularity Award		Won
		Best Supporting Actress	Nam Neung-mi	Nominated
	30th Blue Dragon Film Awards	Best Leading Actor	Kim Myung-min	Won
		Best Leading Actress	Ha Ji-won	Won
		Popular Star Award		Won
		Best Music	Park Ki-heon	Nominated
2010	46th Baeksang Arts Awards	Best Actress	Ha Ji-won	Won
	7th Max Movie Awards	Best Actor	Kim Myung-min	Nominated