I think it is because in the first printing of the original novel, the dogs were implied to have died. An island does appear in the credits of the movie, but it is juxtaposed with music that sounds like a gospel choir hymn singing of freedom and no more pain, almost like "Amazing Grace" or "Swing Low Sweet Chariot". So yeah, the island is most likely a metaphor for the promised land or heaven for those old enough to take is as something other than literal.
Only Snitter claimed to see the island from the shore, but from the camera angle it is clear there was nothing in the distance (dogs eyesight is not nearly as good for long distance as humans are, so if we can't see it, a dog definitely can't). Plus Snitter had been hallucinating more frequently towards the end of the movie, so it is definitely possible the island was all in his mind. The men chasing them seemed to say that there was nothing out there either. If the army had the slightest doubt that those dogs weren't going to die drowning, they wouldn't have given up the chase. After all, if the dogs could swim to a far off island, they could definitely swim back to town.
Later printings of the novel had an extra chapter written by the author where the dogs were rescued by Snitter's master in a boat, who was not dead, but had been recovering in a hospital.
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starlion3
14 years ago
later printings? wow, I always thought the intention of the book was to have be rescused later on.. but it was changed just for the movie .. how sad :(.. but as I've said before either way. Snitter was reunited with his master at the end,
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orsonlovespeas
13 years ago
I just watched this tonight... and I really loved it.
I feel that the island is there at the end to signify that regardless of what is or isn't really there, in Rowf and Snitter's minds, it's there. As Snitter starts fading and saying it was in his head, Rowf firmly says that it is, that it is... because even if they die, at least they are finally at peace, and they've reached the island with no more suffering, which ties into the song.
very disappointed in 20 minutes being cut from the US version, would love to see the whole story.
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wolfsnaps888
12 years ago
Ok I just finished watching this and have dried up my tears. They die. For one thing, Snitter's mind was always confused because of his brain surgery. So maybe he thought he did see the island.
There was no escape for these dogs. The ending song further confirms my idea because the only way they could not feel pain anymore was to die (since Rolf was always sore and whatnot and Snitter's head hurt).
A very sad movie throughout and not like, Disney sad but more like hellishly cruel sad.
I can not unsee this movie but I don't think I could watch it again. It is going to haunt me for a while.
It was well made, I will give them that.
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