Move to Heaven (2021)

March 26, 2023

Our Take: A raw take on the exploration of humanity. 

The Premise

Han Geu Ru is a young adult on the autism spectrum. He works for his father's (Ji Jin Hee) trauma cleaning business "Move to Heaven," where they collect and arrange items left by the deceased to give to their bereaved family members. The goal is to uncover insights left behind by those who have suddenly passed away while honoring their lives and memories. When his father suddenly passes away, Geu Ru gets left in the care of his uncle, ex-convict Cho Sang Gu (Lee Je Hoon).

Sang Gu is a martial arts fighter who used to compete in underground matches for a living. After a traumatic incident during a fight, he lands in jail and loses contact with his half-brother. As Geu Ru's new guardian, they must run the family business and live together for 3 months for Sang Gu to gain full guardianship and claim the inheritance his brother left behind. 

Together with Geu Ru's childhood friend, Yoon Na Mu (Hong Seung Hee), they uncover untold stories of the deceased while healing each other's painful past and trauma. 

The Portrayal of Autism

Tang Jun Sang gave an authentic and convincing portrayal of someone living with autism spectrum disorder through Han Geu Ru. Geu Ru is a highly intelligent and caring person who is simply trying to live his life and overcome the grief of losing his father unexpectedly. 

He had a pure and loving relationship with his dad, who did a wonderful job of providing him with a supportive and caring upbringing while teaching him the ways of the world. His father always respects his boundaries while encouraging him to stand his ground and learn how to form loving relationships with other people. Equipped with the tools to navigate the world around him, Geu Ru gradually learns how to be independent without constantly needing assistance from others. 

The Beauty of Life 

Move to Heaven is a compilation of stories of people from all walks of life. Every story is different but just as beautiful and heartbreaking. With each episode, we get a gentle reminder of what it's like to be human, from celebrating people's lives to grieving the deaths of loved ones.

Throughout the drama, the writer skillfully touches on various societal issues, including our views on life and death and how to deal with loss, traumas, violence, domestic abuse, poor working conditions, regret, prejudice, etc. The show doesn't shy away from controversial topics and handles them in a nuanced, respectful manner.

In particular, the stories center around death, a taboo topic that most people tend to avoid discussing. The reality is that everyone eventually comes face to face with death, whether you are young or old, rich or poor. Nobody is immune. It can happen to you in any number of ways, whether it's old age, illnesses, accidents, murder, etc. 

As Geu Ru and Sang Gu piece together the stories of people who have passed away by putting their most treasured belongings into a yellow box, we see them both struggle with denial and eventual acceptance of their own losses. As trauma cleaners, they have a tough job of getting to know the deceased and the stories of their lifetimes while helping their loved ones find peace and solace. With each yellow box that gets put together, we see that everyone leaves a footprint in this world, and as long as we remember our loved ones, their memories live on. 

The Power of Compassion

As the series explores different aspects of humanity, we come to terms with the fact that everyone is flawed, but that's perfectly okay. 

Despite his limitations, Geu Ru lives life diligently and uses his intellect to do his job better than anyone else. He notices details everyone else easily overlooks and leverages his knowledge to meticulously piece people's untold stories together. With each case, he treats the deceased with utmost respect and care and never judges them for their past actions. Even while his life is anchored by routine, he manages to leave a lasting impact on the people around him and deeply touch their lives. 

Initially, Sang Gu comes off as a self-centered opportunist. But, beneath his hard exterior, he's bitter about his traumatic past and vulnerable due to abandonment issues and his broken bond with his brother. Through working with Geu Ru, he becomes more attentive and patient and learns to love again. He eventually forgives himself for accidentally "killing" his protégé and best friend during a fight and mends his relationship with his brother through caring for Geu Ru. 

Geu Ru's father also went through tragic circumstances, but he takes his hardships and channels them into making himself a better person. As a trauma cleaner, he looks deeply into the lives of the deceased and does his best to understand them and communicate with them through the artifacts they left behind. 

Na Mu has an infectious energy that makes her an absolute joy to be around. She is highly protective of Geu Ru and always stands up for him despite what others say. While her character was not as fleshed out as the others, she is the epitome of a perfect best friend, someone who will stay by your side through thick and thin.

Seeing how fragile life is, we can all benefit from looking inward to find ourselves and going out of our way to hear other people out and show compassion and hope. 

Final Thoughts

If you are desperately looking for the meaning of life or struggling to overcome trauma and grief, Move to Heaven is tailor-made for you. As we get glimpses into the memories of those who have suddenly passed away, we are met with the realization that while we are all different, our shared human experiences are universal. We all go through moments of happiness, joy, and pain, but we also carry the memories of loved ones with us.