Manchester by the Sea

At the end of Manchester by the Sea, the story concludes on a quiet but emotionally powerful note. Lee Chandler, who has been haunted by a tragic past involving the death of his children and the guilt he carries, has finally begun to find some measure of peace. In the film’s final scenes, he and Patrick, the nephew he has taken under his wing, go fishing together in Joe’s boat, which signifies a form of healing and continuation of life despite the pain. This moment of bonding hints that Lee is slowly learning to accept his loss and move forward.

Interestingly, the film’s original ending was intended to be much more expansive. A proposed scene would have shown a flashback of Lee whale-watching with his wife and children, set against a panoramic scene where the camera pulls back to reveal other families enjoying similar adventures, all watched over by other boats in the sea. This would have been a powerful visual metaphor—the lives of ordinary families, filled with joy and tragedy, forming a larger tapestry of human experience. However, this grander ending was cut to keep the film more focused and budget-friendly, emphasizing the intimate emotional journey rather than an epic spectacle.

Ultimately, the chosen ending underscores the film’s themes of grief, responsibility, and healing. It’s a quieter, more subtle closure that allows viewers to feel the weight of Lee’s emotional journey while offering a glimmer of hope, showing that even after profound loss, life can continue with moments of connection and understanding. This ending resonates deeply because it captures the delicate balance between mourning and moving on, making it both poignant and profoundly cinematic.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:57