how did you understand the end of this movie? what was Saul's smile? peace with himself? And why did he react like that when he saw that blond kid?
I think he saw in that boy his "son" again that's why he smiled.
Raylan Givens: I'm going to need an ambulance, and a coroner.
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The ending was a bit challenging. Very wide interpretations here. The boy obviously represents much: freedom, innocence, parenthood, arbitrariness of war (why is this boy any different than the one who was gassed?).
For Saul, seeing the boy, perhaps, allows him to feel a final, brief connection to true humanity. He is no longer the animal the Nazis have treated him as. Maybe that moment makes his escape, while unsuccessful, entirely worthwhile.
The sight of the boy makes saul happy. Other than the deceased boy he was carrying around, he (the blonde boy) was the only sign of humanity. I guess the fact that still some kid was alive makes him smile. But that happiness doesn't last long unfortunately. But at least Saul had a hearty moment before his death.
Such a masterpiece of a film!