A film referenced for its ending where the main character learns of River Phoenix's character's death years after they've grown apart, used as a comparison for processing the death of a childhood friend.
"The closest approximation I can think of is the end of Stand By Me where the kids all go their separate ways and the main guy hears River Phoenix had been killed trying to stop a fight, and that despite not having seen him for over a decade he still grieved the loss."
"Just finished watching Stand by me and I'm not going to lie the ending hit me hard. Was thinking of close friends i used to have in school where we were basically in lock with each other for 7 years but we slowly fell apart."