WHEN THE DEAD NEEDS CLEANING AFTER
At his very first press conference, 17-year-old Tang Junsang asked if he could keep the stingray plushie that was used as a prop to represent his character.
“I want to keep this. Can I keep this stuffed stingray?” he asked during the press conference held in Seoul and streamed via YouTube on Nov. 12.
He explained that stingrays are like best friends to Geu-ru, the character he played in the 10-episode series “Move to Heaven.” Geu-ru has Asperger’s syndrome and a visit to the aquarium always brought him comfort.
Director Kim Sung-ho described Tang as a genius actor. He said that the scene where he had to recite facts about the fish, including the stingray, had no bloopers.
“He chants out information about the stingray. It comforts Geu-ru and relaxes him. The stingray is like a friend to him,” Tang said. “I’m really bad at studying things. I practiced the lines many times to memorize them.”
Lee Je-hoon praised the young actor even more, saying that those lines are long and difficult and that he’d have a hard time if it was him. Lee plays Sang-gu, Geu-ru’s uncle and guardian. He joins the company as the supporting member of the trauma cleaning service called Move to Heaven.
“Trauma cleaners are deceased estate cleaners. These are people who clean up and look after the estate of the deceased. They come face to face with the untold stories of those who left us,” said director Sung-ho.
The show is based on the essay “Things Left Behind” by Kim Sae-byul. It tells the story of the items that people who died alone left behind. In the show, those dead people include a filial son, a loving mom and a couple who found love in their twilight years.
There are no ghosts in “Move to Heaven” despite the morbid subject. But some of the living that we meet in the show are enough to scare us. Thankfully, Geu-ru has plenty of sincerity and warmth to go around.
His father taught him to take care of himself. That is how he was able to function even without his father. At work he followed a strict routine: Pray for the dead, acknowledge the dead’s life, sort through their property. The important ones go inside a yellow box, which will be turned over to the family.
The unwanted items are disposed of. This includes organic matter, such as body fluids and maggots. They also clean up items for the families and relatives at request.
This routine offered refuge to Geu-ru’s grieving heart.
Method acting
Lee said that he practiced method acting while playing the character of Sang-gu.
“When I was on set, I tried my best to appear as the character Sang-gu. Many people around me avoided me actually,” Lee said. “They were saying things like ‘What’s up with him? Why is he like that?’”
He described his character as pompous. Sang-gu intimidates people as a mixed martial artist and a former boxer. But Lee said it’s all for show. In truth, Sang-gu is quite a humble person.
“He goes through personal growth. His past was extremely lonely and he never felt the warmth of other people,” he said.
Hong Seung-hee plays Namoo. Hong describes her character as Geu-ru’s shield. Hong said, “She’s just been a friend for quite a long time. Na-moo likes Geu-ru. She really likes the characteristics of Geu-ru. People have prejudices against her friend, but she wants to protect him and shield him from those prejudices.”
Her protectiveness toward Geu-ru makes her a thorn in the side of Sang-gu. Her and Lee’s characters are always feuding over Geu-ru. Hong said that the show is like the four seasons. She said that viewers will feel the warmth but there will also be a time when they will feel the fire because of the diverse emotions evoked by the series.
The director said that he hopes the series that premiered on Netflix on May 14 comforts and consoles audiences.
“It deals with the funeral culture and the topic of grief and mourning. I truly hope that this series will stretch out a hand of comfort to anyone who watches it,” Sung-ho said.
Death comes for everyone, even good people. And some good people leave the world on their own, without anyone by their side. This is when the trauma cleaners enter the picture. They help the deceased by cleaning after them.