Well Artiste, that has always been my opinion although I'm always in a minority in that thought. I do not think that Jack died. I never have. There were too many open thoughts there that to me suggested that Jack may not be dead. Others typically don't see those suggestions, but I thought that when I first saw the movie and nobody can convince me differently. To me, that scene at the very end looking out the window made me think Jack was out there somewhere. To most it represents emptiness, but not to me. Also, when Laureen speaks about Jack's wishes and then says I mean about the ashes it made me think. We all know what Jack's wishes were and his most important wish was that he and Ennis be together. The ashes, well I didn't see any ashes, and that was certainly not Jack's big Wish. I always get blasted when I bring this up about Jack, but I have never been able to dismiss that thought. And with so many hidden and subtle meanings in the whole movie how do we truly know that Jack died. I don't think he did. I even see that "for absolutely sure that Jack is dead" thread in the book.