Hachi's passing
Looking for some insight to the final scenes of the film... I assume the final scene with Hachi at the station depicts his passing. That said, what I am not sure of is the details of the passing.
As Hachi closes his eyes, lights from a train segue into what I interpret as Hachi dreaming of his master and the time they spent together. We are then returned to the station where we see (from Hachi's perspective) the feet of Parker. The view pans up to confirm that it is indeed Parker. Hachi lifts his head up... Parker smiles and calls Hachi by name. A young restored Hachi and Parker embrace as the scene fades back to the train lights, which fades back to an old Hachi back at the station having passed away. We are then given a birds eye view of the station which pans up past the town and to the sky.
Here are my questions...
1. Is the light of the train meant to communicate the beginning of a dream sequence or Hachi's death?
2. Without a break or separation between the dream/vision Hachi has, am I to assume that seeing Parker at the station is a part of the vision or is the intent to convey that Parker's spirit has genuinely returned to reunite with Hachi?
3. If the latter is the intent (which I am willing to accept), why then would the soundtrack list the music being played in that moment be titled "Goodbye"?
4. Is the scene's intent to simply convey's Hachi's passing and that even in death, he thinks of nothing else than his master?
5. Is the upward pan of the camera toward the sky meant to convey Parker and Hachi are going to heaven?
This movie and underlying true story has captured my heart and these questions are tugging at me as I watch the final scenes over and over. Thanks to all who made this movie a truly heartwarming experience.