Yeah, that's why I said at the outset that it was written to gain the widest audience possible, by being open to multiple readings.
The film is also based on Ann Proulx's short story. So, it's not just Lee but also Proulx if Lee was as faithful to the story as people say.
I think I snipped this part out, but I don't think you could have had any other ending -- that fit within the range of acceptable Hollywood endings. Michael Ventura, who wrote (writes?) screenplays says that the dictum in writing meetings is to make sure people walk out of the film happy.
What other ending would have made people happier? Crying cathartically is consistent with a happy ending.
Bitch | Lab http://blog.pulpculture.org