Friend here has vague memories of a movie - I thought if anyone could figure out what it was, it was some Dopers.
Here’s what she remembers.
Takes place by a large body of water - most likely ocean/sea. There’s a young boy and older man who have some sort of relationship. Older man lives somewhere, most likely island, where you can only get there by boat. Younger man takes him provisions or at least makes trips to see him. People are unaware that the older man is out there. Young man confides in young girl about the older man and then hells seems to break loose.
Any idea dopers? Don’t let me down! 
Tibs.
Did the Old Man live in a swamp?
Was he iliterate?
Did the boy read to him?
Did the film end with everybody thinking the old man dead, except the boy who sees a tic tac toe grid layed out on the ground and knows that the man is still alive?
If this is the movie you have in mind, I don’t know the title. However, it was made by Disney.
It doesn’t really sound like this is the movie, but maybe I can at least get some brainstorming going.
Could it be The Secret of Roan Inish?
The Ghost Of Cypress Swamp?
There’s a pic of the box at the bottom o’ the page.
The IMDB, has no plot summary of the film. But, from the box and the depths of my brain-
Family is on a hunt. Son gets seperated and finds old man. Man is hiding out because he’s a wanted criminal. They have long friendly chats(I remember the boy telling the old man about nickelodeons). I can’t remember if the boy makes more than one trip tho. Either the rest of the family finds him, he tells them about the old man and they form an anrgy mob. Or he returns safely, visits often, blabs to somebody, and then angry mob is formed.
DocCathod, she just looked at the picture in the link you send and she said, “That’s the boy!!”
You kick ass, Doc. Thank you very much for your help.
And thank you, Kaylasdad99, for the great suggestion!
You guys are great.
Tibs.