Tom Wilkinson

That's the way I interpreted it. Yes, a lovely performance by Tom, who I (as I imagine a lot of other folks from the colonies) first noticed in The Full Monty. We have a lawn gnome in our garden in honor of Gerald Coopersmith!
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I'm not inclined to resign to maturity.

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@ hilaryjrp: "I'm not sure if the flamingo (or whatever exotic bird it is) taking flight is meant to signify Graham's peace at the end or his heartbreak."

The bird foraging in the hotel's courtyard is a medium-sized heron called Mesophoyx intermedia (Intermediate Egret). This species is a native resident of the Indian sub-continent.

* Photos of the egret in the movie: http://oi44.tinypic.com/2hf4zrt.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermediate_Egret

More specifically, the bird shown in the movie is a non-breeder -- note the completely-black legs, absence of filamentous plumes, & the yellow bill. In breeding stage, this species develops long & loose filamentous plumes on the breast & back, while the upper parts of the legs become dull yellow or pink. The bill may also turn black or reddish.

As for symbolism, the heron/egret is regarded as a messenger of Athena, the ancient Greek goddess of wisdom. The bird is said to represent divine wisdom, calmness, contemplation, inner peace, grace & solitude. It also symbolizes the struggle of good/love/acceptance vs. evil/hate/rejection.

http://www.heraldryclipart.com/symbolism/h.html
http://www.whats-your-sign.com/meaning-of-the-heron.html

As such, the graceful imagery of the heron is an apt metaphor of the human condition as represented by Graham. After decades of grief, uncertainty, inner struggle & self-repression, his final trip to India & the knowledge thus yielded (ie. finding out that his lifelong beloved is safe, happy & does not hate/blame him; that his new friends were not discriminating against him) had allowed him to find peace & closure.

It is quite understandable how his long years of inner torment could have contributed to his heart condition & subsequent death in India. In a sense, he also died of a broken heart -- albeit peacefully & with acceptance. Afterall, although he finally managed to locate his beloved, they weren't able to get back together due to the latter's marital & societal "responsibilities".

@ hilaryjrp: "There's an ambiguity to his story definitely not like the other characters' happy or at least appropriate endings."

The outcome is very reminiscent of another film called 'A Single Man' (2009). There, the grief-stricken gay protagonist died of heart failure in his sleep -- despite having decided that he wanted to live. (A heart stressed by prolonged & relentless sorrow would break in the end, regardless of what the brain wants.)

In this movie, the protagonist's last moments & demise are preceded by a scene showing an owl perched on a branch before it silently took flight. This recalls what the 19th-century German philosopher Georg Hegel wrote in 'Preface to the Philosophy of Right':

"Only when dusk starts to fall, does the owl of Minerva spread its wings and fly."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Owl_of_Athena#As_a_philosophical_metaphor

Minerva is the Roman name for Athena & like the heron/egret, the owl symbolizes wisdom. In essence, the above statement means that we only truly understand a historical condition only after it has occurred -- ie. in hindsight.

Likewise for Graham's life, predicament, & final mission -- all of which are gradually unveiled as the movie progresses, culminating in the scene by the river & Evelyn's voice-overs. Only after the egret has taken flight are we able to put the jigsaw pieces together & hopefully understand why.

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