The Sand Pebbles ending explained
Spoiler summary page for informational search intent.
What happens at the end?
Engineer Jake Holman arrives aboard the gunboat USS San Pablo, assigned to patrol a tributary of the Yangtze in the middle of exploited and revolution-torn 1926 China. His iconoclasm and cynical nature soon clash with the 'rice-bowl' system which runs the ship and the uneasy symbiosis between Chinese and foreigner on the river. Hostility towards the gunboat's presence reaches a climax when the boat must crash through a river-boom and rescue missionaries upriver at China Light Mission.
Why it matters
The ending resolves the main conflict and sets up the emotional takeaway of the story. As the index grows, this block can be auto-generated with more detailed scene-level commentary.
FAQ
Does this page contain spoilers?
Yes. The explanation summarizes major ending events and interpretation.
Where can I find similar endings and themes?
Check the similar movies page for related tone and narrative structure.