Madadayo in my opinion is like the visual representation of the life and work of the Sensei Akira kurosawa himself.
The character of the professor is like Kurosawa himself, seeing him throughout his career
His love of teaching/filmmaking even in the times of war to cheer everybody up to having a polite personality.
The cat 'nora' symbolises the Japanese film industry for which Kurosawa cared more than himself. WHEN 'nora' left he was shattered and even wanted to commit suicide.
It was through the arrival of another cat i.e foreign aid like Lucas, spielberg, scorsese and russian cinema which helped him persue his love i.e. Filmmaking.
His dream to die on a film set making a movie might never come but his teachings and his masterpieces will live long after his death.
To everyone out there giving up on their dreams the Sensei he just says 'madadayo' - not yet.
Review of Madadayo
