Jess Talks About Our Heaven

Friday night, I found myself with a cup of tea, a snack or two and in the mood to enjoy a movie night. What can I say? I’m a party animal.  A suggestion on mydramalist led me to watch Our Heaven.  I am so glad that I found this film.

Our Heaven, also titled Rockin’ On Heaven’s Door, came  out in 2013 and stars Lee Hong Ki as idol Choong Ui.  Choong Ui gets into a fight and is sentenced to community service at a hospital for terminally ill patients that is in danger of being shut down.  To try to help the hospital, a group of patients beg Choong Ui to help their band so that they can enter a televised talent show.

The film begins with Choong Ui’s character being shown as a spoiled idol with a short temper.  When he is ordered to complete the community service, he fakes a tear filled apology for the cameras waiting for him to go inside.  He is disgusted by the chores he is expected to do, such as laundry, and at first is not aware of the type of care provided by the hospital.  He soon realizes that is working at a hospice and that every patient no matter their age or wealth, is terminally ill.

I love the character growth that is shown in Choong Ui.  Lee Hong Ki does a wonderful job playing the part.  You can see the changes in his attitude and facial expressions as he gets to know the patients’ stories and begins to feel affection towards the characters.  Choong Ui goes from being a bratty idol to someone who helps the patients’ believe in their dreams.  He is able to see past the hospital gowns and begins to see them as the their true selves rather than people who are dying.

Another point that I love about the movie is that because it takes place at a hospice, the audience is able to see the characters after their diagnosis.  They have heard the news, accepted it as they knew best and are now living their lives as normally as they can while in a hospital.  This also allows the characters and the story of the band to be the main focus while pushing the illness to the side.  To me, this shows that these people are not their illnesses.  They are their hopes, dreams and memories.

I highly recommend this film.  I found it to be beautiful, funny and heartbreaking at different times. Our Heaven brings all the feels.  There were points where I was laughing while being misty eyed.  I will recommend having tissues on hand, but I promise that it is well worth the tears.