An honestly critical meditation upon the nature of what is commonly called "courage", this film is also a realistic metaphor for what constitutes social courage in a time of social challenge, such as those we see today, within political, economic, and environmental contexts.
I'm not sure how satisfied I would have been with a more existentialist ending, but I do appreciate the screen-writer's intent to make a clear statement about how synchronistic potential, which rises from authentic organic commitment, can also trigger serendipity out of abject failure, because, even if they don't ALWAYS do so, humans CAN learn from their mistakes, even if these particular humans did a rather tooooo abrupt about-face, when they got their hands on Gary Cooper's journal.
I'm not sure how satisfied I would have been with a more existentialist ending, but I do appreciate the screen-writer's intent to make a clear statement about how synchronistic potential, which rises from authentic organic commitment, can also trigger serendipity out of abject failure, because, even if they don't ALWAYS do so, humans CAN learn from their mistakes, even if these particular humans did a rather tooooo abrupt about-face, when they got their hands on Gary Cooper's journal.