Closer to Heaven (lit. "My Love by My Side") is a 2009 South Korean film written and directed by Park Jin-pyo, starring Ha Ji-won and Kim Myung-min.

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

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 to surpass the 2 million admissions mark since Maundy Thursday 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