---I am sorry but this movie lost me along the way. I don't see what the purpose of the wounded IRA guy was in the story at all. What could have been a really poignant movie about the troubles of the dying young boy trying to find the meaning of death and the older boy's emotionally damaged attempts to find the meaning in life after witnessing his father's murder is simply plowed under in some totally inexplicable foray into IRA politics. ---I waited for it to be all tied together in the end but it didn't happen and it all simply became more confusing. This movie could have been a real winner had they spent more time on the story. I mean the ending is simply not there. The boy dies after seeing his geese and the older boy is left in the boat I guess, we don't know for sure. ---The boys could have been brought ashore again near the younger's parents cabin with the older boy having been helped the younger boy to understand or accept what is coming and then have the parents take in the older boy and provide him with the emotional help he needed. So the younger boy passes away but the older boy finds understanding and a home where he gets help from parents who are left needing someone to help. Just one of many better ways to have ended this movie. ---Instead we get a well made movie with a mediocre story... in my opinion.
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