The last scenes...... help needed....

From the timing of the events--the 1980s, and the signs of Rei's illness (weakness, swollen glands, oral thrush, night sweats, nausea, facial lesions resembling Kaposi's Sarcoma), it appeared that Rei was HIV-infected, and was dying of AIDS; it was never spoken or written-- it was up to us to make the assumption. He made his lover promise that he wouldn't die in a hospital. Then he (Reinaldo) gave him some envelopes for family, friends, and the press, and asked him to read something to him. As his friend read to him, Reinaldo slipped into unconsciousness, and did not wake when prodded. So his friend suffocated him to be sure he was dead--there was a brief struggle as the organism formerly known as Reinaldo instintively fought for his life, then his arm dropped and we see his lifeless hand hanging there.

As for the voiceover and subtitles, I will get back to you on that, after I watch the ending again.

I watched the ending again.

I noticed that Reinaldo told Lazaro that the plastic bag (which had I love NY printed on it) was important, and I realized he was asking Lazaro to assist him in finalizing his death.


After the death, the following poem appears on the screen:

"I am that unlikeable child
definitely unwanted
with the round dirty face
who before the giant street lights or
under the grandames also illuminated
or in front of the little girls
that seem to levitate
projects the insult of his dirty face.

I am that angry and lonely child of always,
that throws you the insult of that angry child of always and warns you:
if hypo critically you pat me on the head
I would take that opportunity to steal your wallet.

I am that child of always
before the panorama of imminent terror,
imminent leprosy, imminent fleas,
of offenses and the imminent crime.

I am that repulsive chld that improvises a bed
out of an old cardboard box and waits,
certain that you will accompany me."

I hope that helps you.
It certainly helped me---to see that poem again.

Who's saying that the director "changed" the ending? Reinaldo committed suicide with sleeping pills and alcohol in real life as in film (watch the ending again and you will see). A possible "help" by his friend Lazaro wouldn't be verifiable later, so it also wouldn't be official...

Reading about the ending made me cry again.

The fact that Lazaro would do that for Reinaldo - essentially put Reinaldo out of his misery by ending his life - shows how deeply he loved Reinaldo. That is so moving.

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