Did I understand? SPOILERS
I am wondering if I misunderstood something.. Opinions or corrections requested.
On a simple level it would seem Santiago died near the end and his body found soon afterwards. Miguel then pressed for the local burial at sea, and, briefly, at the end, Santiago's spirit paid a quick visit (on the boat) to say goodby, thank you..
But then I started to think ..
There were scenes earlier where the two of them walked through town, even holding hands at one point and Santiago repeatedly made comments along the lines of "look, they don't see me"
At the time I simply interpreted Santiago's comment being about his being metaphorically invisible to town folk for their refusal to accept him and his sexuality, but now I think I got that wrong.
Was it meant literally - he really was invisible because he really was physically not there.
So Santiago was already dead at that point (and we, as watchers, don't know that) and these bits were Santiago's spirit / ghost? That would mean Miguel also didn't realise Santiago was dead and that the walk and conversation were in Miguel's imagination?
Then I started to think it could be more than that.. The death and burial at the start.. That was a different person wasn't it? I'm sure it was a person called Carlos... But I wondered if the disappearance of the body was meant to be Santiago's body .. or just a parallel?
I think by now I'm starting to overthink it!
few visible scars