One of the great endings in modern movies was the closing scenes in Mr. Holland's Opus. What did it mean?

The meaning should be clear: he had, in fact, impacted MANY lives and, therefore, contributed a great dealto the world! Also, his Opus got PLAYED, which makes it different from the tons of other music, writings, and other creative arts that never see the light of day, much less get a public debut.

Sometimes, we can't see the forest (life) for the trees (the diapers that need changing, the bills that get paid, the small talks, the kind guestures that make up a LIFE, as opposed to a grand, empty existence!

You screwed up the ending.

He didn't quit. His program was phased out due to price cut backs. He was upset that the school district no longer cared about creating complete students. It had nothing to do with him feeling bad about his career. The whoe movie had something to do with him feeling sad about not doing more with his music. The ending had only to do with him not being ready to retire. He was finally comfortable with his lot in life. Then he gets the big surprise that all of his students have come back to say good bye to him in the best way they know how by playing his Opus for him. They were trying to say thank you for all he did for him. The sad thing was that the clarinettist was the mayor who couldn't save his program. The happy thing was that his son showed up for it.

At any rate, it was a hollow ending in my mind because Rowena wasn't there and she seemed to be his biggest joy. Sure, she wanted to have sex with him and him with her but thatwas years ago. I still found her absence sad.

He had to fight to even have a music program in a school that was sport's oriented. The fact that all of his students past and present united to play his piece demonstrates the importance his role played to the students as well as the community. In short, his dedication and hard work were appreciated and demonstrated. That movie still makes me cry, and I never even went to band camp!