An Amazing Piece of Work: Aesthetic Cinematography, Strong Characterization, and Excellent Acting
It was my first time watching a historical and a political chinese movie with republican era and World War II as its setting, so I didn't really know what to expect except for the main casts, Tony Leung and Wang Yibo. Both of them are well-known figures in China and also I've been a huge fan of Wang Yibo, so I think it's worth to gave this movie a try and I'm glad I did.Maybe this genre is not for everyone but I can say this movie is enjoyable and the plot itself is great. There are indeed many conversations happened in this movie but it gets better as the story progresses and they also successfully deliver a satisfying climax. What I love about this movie are the strong characterization and its beautiful cinematography which makes the movie feel more intense and engaging. However some part might be confusing because the time setting is non-linear and there are many back and forth between scenes, so you need to really pay attention to it. I also wished they could add some informative details in the movie because I feel like some scenes aren't fully explained.
Another fascinating thing about this movie are, of course, the actors and actresses. They have big names involved in this movie and All of them did a great job in delivering their roles. I won't talk much about Tony Leung because he is, no doubt, a veteran and his acting is brilliant as always.
Meanwhile as a fan of Wang Yibo, I can say this is one of his best performances as an actor. It might be a great pressure to act as main role alongside a veteran like Tony Leung, but I think Yibo managed to deliver his character excellently and the chemistry between the main leads work very well too despite the generational difference. I'm so thankful that they gave Wang Yibo the opportunity to be a part of this movie. This is another breakthrough for his career as a movie actor. I know many people still underestimate his acting skill since he started from idol actor, but I think you could start to throw your skepticism away after you watch this movie. I'm proud of how far he grows as an actor and I know he will continue to develop because he always pours his heart into his work.
Overall, I really recommend you to watch this movie because it's worth watching and even for those who have some worries about 'communist propaganda', I think this movie is safe for you and you can still give it a try because the plot doesn't deeply showcase the idiological aspect but rather focuses on espionage and the schemes against the japanese invanders.
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This review may contain spoilers
"Jasmine - Gift From God."
10/05/2023It is a sad movie and one that will pull at your heart strings.
I think movies like this are hard to re-watch as they need boxes of tissues.
Coming to terms with something like cancer is difficult at any age especially when it is aggressive with no mercy whatsoever and it cuts your time short.
Taigi Asano despite being a true fighter had real fears and questioned why he was the target - he wanted to live, like most of us, only that was taken away from him at the age of twenty.
The difference with his story compared to what I've experienced, seen or heard about in my time is Taigi Asano didn't really come to grips with dying, and that to me was the saddest part because he would have been so scared in his final moments, and that shouldn't have been so.
There are stages that a person goes through when dying or that we go through when someone dies and for some reason he didn't seem to accept what was going to happen.
In some countries, like the UK, there are dedicated counsellors to assist those that are dying so that they are psychologically prepared. So, I'm wondering what does Japan have these days because 20 years ago if someone was diagnosed with a terminal disease families had the right to keep that from the person if they wanted.
In fact, there is this one brief scene where Taigi's sister has bought a cake for him and says lightheartedly to her mother more or less: "We can do cake again next year..." I don't think she knew the seriousness of his condition compared to his parents and him. Not at all!
I also want to mention that turning twenty in Japan is quite a special time and significant for all young people that age as it means they can drink and gamble - it is celebrated on the second Monday of January every year where they dress up in kimonos or smart attire and have the best time ever!
Unfortunately, Taigi Asano died a few days after it was celebrated so never had that opportunity.
The reason I mention it is because his girlfriend acknowledged him making it to that age in one small scene and I felt it really underplayed the significance of it, however, he wouldn't have been able to celebrate the "Coming of Age Day " even if he wanted to as he would have been too sick.
I wish he had been able to do that at least.
Anyhow, Taigi Asano composed a few musical pieces in high school and university with "Jasmine" being one that he wrote and completed not long before he died and the other being a short anthem for his high school which is full of vigor with an upbeat drum intro. Maybe others too - not sure.
At the end of the movie you will hear the song "Jasmine" sung in English by Kenta Dedachi and there is a real photo of Taigi Asano attached to it before it finishes.
The song in English comes across a bit like a love song so I'm not sure if it quite fits in with how Taigi meant it to be with some of the lyrics, but it is a beautifully written song to what was just a musical composition.
Asano composed "Jasmine" as "Jasmine" means "Gift from God".
For him, each day waking up was a "gift from god" and he really wished that his "tomorrow" "the gods would grant his wish" to "let him live" not make forever "memories". Being alive each day, having good moments rather than bad, seeing butterflies flying around and his hopes was what the song was all about and to not disappear.
He wanted to live!
"Jasmine"
良かったらどうぞ。自分なりの和訳も加えてみました。(YouTube)
Do you hear the song?
Quiet melody
Ringing in the hallway still
When you feel
Like you’re falling behind
Be still
And hear your heart
Treasure your heart
Wherever you go
Say you’ll remember
Every moment together
You are my forever
My gift from above
I’ll never let you go
If you never let me go
I’ll give my soul for you
Tonight…
You’re the one I want
In my memories
If I could only have one wish
When I couldn’t fight fear
You cheered me in tears
And you’re still
Standing here with me
We’re only at the beginning
Say you’ll remember
Every moment together
You are my forever
My gift from above
I’ll never let you go
If you never let me go
I’ll give my soul for you
Tonight…
Every night I pray to God in bed
In spite of the pain I thank you for the light
in my life
Here’s to another day
Don’t wait ’til tomorrow
If you know you’re not over
You are my jasmine
My gift from above
I’ll never let you go
If you never let me go
I’ll give my all my soul…
Say you’ll remember
Every moment together
You are my forever
My gift from above
I’ll never let you go
If you never let me go
I’ll give my soul for you
If there is tomorrow
Let go of your sorrow
Remember the rainbow
That gift from above
I’ll never let you go
If you never let me go
I’ll give my soul for you
Tonight…
その歌が聞こえますか？
静かなメロディーが
廊下で今でも鳴っている
あなたが取り残されていると感じたら
静かに心の声を聞いてね
たとえ何処に行こうとも
あなたの心を大切にしてね
すべての瞬間を一緒に心に留めようと言って
あなたは私の永遠で
天上からの贈り物
私はあなたを決して手放さない
もしあなたが手放さずにいてくれたら
魂をあなたのために捧げるよ
今宵は…
あなたは、私の思い出の中で望む唯一の人です
もし私が1つだけ願いを持つことができたならば
恐怖に打ち勝つことができなかったとき
あなたは涙を流して私を励ましてくれた
そしてあなたは今でも私とここに立っている
私たちはまだ始まりに過ぎない
すべての瞬間を一緒に心に留めようと言って
あなたは私の永遠で
天上からの贈り物
私はあなたを決して手放さない
もしあなたが手放さずにいてくれたら
魂をあなたのために捧げるよ
今宵は…
毎晩ベッドで神様に祈っています
苦しみにも負けず私は人生の希望の光に感謝します
今日も一日頑張ろう
ただじっと明日を待つことをしないで
終わっていないと分かるならば
あなたは私の｢ジャスミン｣だから
天上からの贈り物
私はあなたを決して手放さない
もしあなたが手放さずにいてくれたら
魂をあなたのために捧げるよ
すべての瞬間を一緒に心に留めようと言って
あなたは私の永遠で
天上からの贈り物
私はあなたを決して手放さない
もしあなたが手放さずにいてくれたら
魂をあなたのために捧げるよ
今宵は…
明日がそこにあるのなら
悲しみなんて捨てて
虹を思い浮かべよう
天上からの贈り物
私はあなたを決して手放さない
もしあなたが手放さずにいてくれたら
魂をあなたのために捧げるよ
今宵は…
It is a touching tribute to a young male that really loved music - he still lives on because of the pieces he composed.
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countryside slice of life movie full of nice looking food
Little Forest - 8,5/10 -kmovieslice of life movie full of simple food making and countryside lifestyle.
I quite enjoyed seeing how big is difference in cuisine and got feel that even I can try out some of these simple dishes.
this movie got alot of vibe like dramas :Summer Strike: or :When weather is fine: but it does better. May be cause its movie so you dont feel that drama being slow.
No much of romance here, but still worth to watch.
plot - FL runs away from stressed life of big city back to her home countryside. She begins live countryside daily life just as when she was small kid, before she decides what to do with her life.
genre- slice of life, cooking, countryside
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takes the phrase “leave you on the edge of your seat” to new heights (haha, flight pun)
The story was not only thrilling, it was surprisingly very moving as well. The actors did great (I’m an Yibo fan and I’m trying to be unbiased here, but he did so well! Everyone did!). The cgi/action scenes were all very nicely done, and I felt like they never gave us time to breathe before throwing us into another thrilling flight scene. Their fear, urgency, camaraderie, pride; all these felt very real.I never heard of test pilots before this, so I thought how refreshing and touching it was to be able to watch a version of their stories. I laughed, I cried…
It was a great movie. That’s what it is.
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Feelings
When I saw this movie by chance on some website, I didn't know that it would be so moving, at least for me.During the very beginning of the movie it was written that this movie is based on true events I didn't think it would be so brutal. I can't believe what people, especially adults, can do to children who are defenseless and innocent.
This film perfectly shows how today's power behaves, which will do anything for money if they are told how many scams can be done even for little money if someone needs them. However, you can also see the contrast that there are still good people in this world who can focus on the victims and help them, even at all costs, such as arguing with the family to show them the truth.
I had goosebumps and shivers the entire time I was watching. The whole movie was suspenseful.
To be honest, people who are more emotional will cry for sure.
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So bad, it's just bad
Some movies are so bad that they are good. The Invisible Terrorist almost made the cut in this category if not for two disturbing scenes that downgraded it in my view. Too bad, I'm always up for some Carter Wong kung fu action and ridiculous weaponry and plot lines. The Invisible Terrorist delivered in those areas.Once again, Ming rebels have a secret list of their members that for some reason they are carrying around and the evil Qing, of course, want to steal it. Poor Lo Lieh, in what amounts to a guest role, is taken out by a Qing ambush within the first ten minutes of the movie. Wang Hsieh is a turncoat Ming general working for the other side along with Chin Kang and Lung Fei. A Shaolin monk who is a rebel leader gives Carter Wong the secret rebel list. The monk tells him that there is a traitor among them called the Deadly Blade. During an attack, the monk is killed as the rebels escape. Carter divides the list between himself and Cliff Lok and Wen Chiang Long. From there the story amps up the bizarro plot lines.
What ruined this film for me is when Carter's character is captured and his sister is brought in to persuade him to give the Qing the list he has hidden, he brutally rapes his sister to prove that she isn't his sister. The only thing that it proved to me was that he was a vicious pervert. Even plot-wise it didn't make sense as they were alone in a prison cell and he was rescued about two minutes after the fact. Later, a number of pigeons were killed. So, if incestual rape and animal cruelty trouble you, I would recommend you not watch this movie.
It really was a shame because this movie has one of the most bonkers plotlines I've seen in a kung fu film, not good, but so bad it was funny. The number of double crosses and "I know something you don't know!" reveals kept going right up to the end credits. In an ode to school band members, one of the deadly squads of assassins was called The Six Cymbals. They were impervious to swords and defeated their opponents with the loudest most annoying weapons ever. Another squad was called The Six Whips. They too, had loud annoying weapons impervious to swords. But they had a weakness---bamboo!
Loud annoying weapons, rape, animal cruelty, the makers of this movie knew how to ruin a perfectly convoluted kung fu good time. My advice is to skip this one. I wish I had.
5/5/23
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Beautiful, you will cry so hard to the point it hurts
I have no idea where to start I just loved how it was put together, I don't even know how to word it. It just flowed perfectly making sure it gives our hearts a good sharp nudge. No need to think twice this movie is such a must watch. The actors were amazing, will for sure be watching more of their projects. I haven't watched the original and I've heard its better but I don't even know how that could be possible because when I tell you I'm in love with everything about this like MMM I'm in love with this genre and type of story.Was this review helpful to you?
All my favourite geners are present in this movie.
Waiting for second part to come as soon as possible. Sci-fi, Time Zone, Thriller, Affection, Cuteness. All the casting are way good. I love the character of Muruk and Ean. Let's see the story where to lead us. The movie satisfies my love inner peace.I love the director of this movie 🍿❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️💗💓💗💓💗💓💓💓💓💗💓💓💗💓💗💓💗💓💗💓💗💓💗💓💗💓💓💗💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😻😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😎🍿.
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lee na mi ur average office worker lost her phone and it turned up at a repair shop. from there on she starts getting stalked which leads to a murder mystery including 8 other victims (nami being the 9th one) being solved.
now the thriller aspect was good. the progression of the whole movie was good too and the revelation in the end was the cherry on top. however tho i wouldve loved to know more about the killer. imo this movie couldve been woven into a short series. it wasnt rushedor cramped but the ending couldve been better.
all in all a good watch
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This review may contain spoilers
Attraction and....
....temptation. This is the term missing from the title. They are two sides of the same coin as this short movie shows.There are two parallel stories in this shor movie that join in the end.
The first one is about an army sergeant who has a crush on his kind superior and even though he wants to tell him, he is confused by that kindness ,not knowing how to interpret it, so he loses his courage and says nothing.
The other story is about a female office worker who is having a fling with her married coworker.
Attraction is an amazingly well told and filmed story describing how difficult it is to reveal one's feelings or resist the temptation of acting on attraction. They also point out the difference in straight and gay attractions, because and in spite of our societies making huge advances, the straight relationship is still the norm and it is easier to act upon it and succumb to temptation. The soldier, in addition to being a man is in the Army where the hierarchy and obeissance are the rule so coming out to his superior has added difficulties. He was brave enough to approach him at the train station but was eventually made speechless but the superior's kindness and invisible barriers.
I would love to see this develop into a longer movie. Why was he attracted to his superior? Was he having hard time in the army and grabbed onto a little bit of kindness and understanding he could find? Why was she attracted to the married man? Bored but not wanting a serious relationship? Or something else...
Maybe I am reading too much into this or maybe not enough!
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This review may contain spoilers
"The sword is the soul...Evil mind, evil sword."
The Sword of Doom opens up a flood gate of ethical and individual responsibility discussions when a samurai with his own code ran afoul of just about everyone else in the movie. Upon close examination, many of the characters deriding Ryunosuke for being a cold-blooded murderer should more closely have examined their own actions. But in the end, with the question of "Am I the jerk?", Ryunosuke should have spent more time on self-reflection.Near the end of the Shogunate different groups were vying for power. Seemingly apart from the political upheavals, a grandfather and granddaughter climb a mountain where there is a Buddhist shrine. As the grandfather is praying for death, Ryunosuke appears and cuts him down. A thief racing by him down the path eludes him and later finds the granddaughter weeping.
Ryunosuke was scheduled to spar with Utsuki Bunnojo. Hama, Utsuki's wife, comes and begs for him to allow her husband to win to save his and the family's reputation and to keep the leadership of the Kogen school intact. Ryunosuke tells her, "A swordsman prizes his skills like a woman prizes her chastity." If she is willing to set aside her pride, he will, too. When her husband finds out she slept with his opponent he hands her a letter of divorce and seeks blood. "This is no match. It's a duel!" proclaims one onlooker. When Utsuki uses a deadly illegal move, Ryunosuke ends the match permanently. Utsuki's clan ambushes him on the way out of town and he slices his way to freedom. Having nowhere else to turn Hama follows him.
After a time, Ryunosuke takes the name Yoshida and joins a group of ronin who help to prop up the Shogunate by assassinating anyone considered an enemy. Bunnojo's brother Hyoma trains at Shimada's school run by Mifune Toshiro. He wants revenge on his brother's death but knows his skills are not nearly good enough to defeat the deadly ronin. Along the way he meets the granddaughter, Omatsu, training at a flower school. The thief with a heart of gold, Shichibei, has cared for her since they met on the mountain.
Yoshida's unshakeable confidence is shaken along the way. That's what happens when you see Mifune Toshiro in action! His vacant gaze falters and fear creeps into his dark eyes. It is one thing to be a ruthless killing machine when you know no one can defeat you, it's quite another when you discover someone with superior skills. Up to this point he might have been able to explain his actions, but he begins to commit murders that cross the line and the invisible guilt cuts into his heart. Eventually, he comes face to face with the consequences of one of his actions and he completely snaps with the guilt manifested visibly.
On the mountain was he simply answering the old man's prayer to die or was he just in the mood to cut someone in half? Though Ryunosuke's actions were despicable when he made the deal with Hama, for him it was a business deal based on his own unflinching code. Completely outside of a normal ethical perspective but perfectly acceptable to him. He would blame her for Bunnojo's death unable to see that his lack of compassion and political foresight set his downfall into motion. No matter how angry and hurt Bunnojo was, he behaved dishonorably during the match and paid the price. His clan was in the wrong for ambushing a single man. At least according to the code of samurai movies, men died in duels all the time. The band of assassins he'd joined also showed that there was no honor among them. A man's character was revealed in and through his sword. Only Shimada fought to remain honorable throughout the film even as he guided Hyoma. Surprisingly, the thief Shichibei showed more honor than many of the samurai. As time went along, Ryunosuke's mental health deteriorated. Never one to show emotion, maniacal grins began to creep onto his face. The ghosts of murders past cried out to him sending him over the blood-soaked edge.
Ryunosuke was not a character you could like or even admire. Nakadai Tatsuya's performance was compelling as Ryunosuke's sanity shattered sending him down a path of no return. The sword fight choreography was better than average for the time, bloodier than average as well. There were a lot of misses but given the number of opponents dancing about that could be forgiven.
The framing and filming of the shots was beautifully done in black and white. The music also fit the mood. At two hours, it could feel long at times, but overall was engaging.
The Sword of Doom was perfectly titled. The blade not only signaled doom to his opponents but to Ryunosuke as well. The film had a Shaw Brothers type ending with a freeze frame during the action. Was it a cliffhanger for further storytelling in a future movie? Many characters still had story left to live. Yet this was probably a perfect ending for the swordsman who had suffered his final break when karma came calling. Not a perfect movie, but an entertaining and action filled samurai film that asked a person to look into their own soul as well as another's for "The sword is the soul. Study the soul to know the sword. Evil mind, evil sword."
5/4/23
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Non Spoiler Plot
Yang Fan (Male Lead) is a scientist in search of mermaids, in one of their teams mission, they happen to come across a clan of mermaids. During the encounter, one of the mermaid was captured, but Yang Fan fell into the ocean. He was then saved by Xiao Yu (female lead). Yang Fan wake up in an unfamiliar place with no memories of the accident. He was forced to marry one of the inhabitant (Xiao Yu) of the mysterious place. Yang Fen tried to escape but he can't escape from Xiao Yu . Yang Fen had no choice but to bring his new wife to the city.Was this review helpful to you?
Good backstory but lackluster horror
The overall narrative is pretty good in providing a nice flow of storyline and adequate structure for its backstory, though the visual impact on its horror elements might be a little lackluster and falls short in terms of attention to details. Despite that the logical reasoning at the end is relevant enough to justify the grudge held in the train station, and it even comes with a spy-like mission ending for the final resolution, which is a pleasant surprise and a fresh take for Korean horror films.Was this review helpful to you?
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"Love is a matter of time. It's no good meeting the right person too soon or too late"
2046 returned to the world Wong Kar Wai built in his 2000 film, In the Mood for Love. Tony Leung Chiu Wah reprised his role of Chow Mo Wan, this time as a broken man who numbed himself with casual sex and used the lives of the beautiful women in the hotel room next door, room 2046, as inspiration for his story of the same name.Chow, now alone after the events in the last film, earns his meager living writing racy stories. He had moved to Singapore and has little money for airfare home. The Black Spider (Gong Li) comes to his rescue and after spending time together he asks her to go to Hong Kong with him which she refuses. Back in Hong Kong he helps a very drunk woman home one night. In a moment of narrative synchronicity, he finds a room available next door, room 2047. He would have preferred 2046 but the woman he helped home was later stabbed by a jealous lover in that room and there was some redecorating to do. For those who didn't see In the Mood for Love, 2046 was the number of the room in another hotel where Chow and Su Lizhen (Maggie Cheung) worked on a martial arts story.
Aside from the revolving door to his bedroom, the lonely writer becomes involved with various women at different times and different ways in the hotel. The landlord's daughter, Jingwen (Faye Wong), is in love with a Japanese man, something her father cannot tolerate and will not approve of. Bai Ling (Zhang Zi Yi) moves in and she and Chow "borrow" each other to occupy their nights. Both have their share of paramours but become intimately if not romantically involved. Though she would like more, he keeps his emotional distance. As he writes his dystopian story of a train to 2046 where people search for their lost memories, the women's lives offer fodder for his creativity.
For me, this film would have been more difficult to understand if I hadn't watched In the Mood for Love prior to it. Understand might not be the right word, sympathize would work better. Chow didn't come across in a very favorable light as he slept his way through Hong Kong. Knowing what happened between him and Su Lizhen aided in feeling sympathy for his case of terminal heartache as guilt and grief guided his self-inflicted pain.
There were also many call backs to ITMFL. The green noodle thermos made an appearance several times. Many of the sets and lighting were similar, even more so when the rain set in. A taxi ride where he at least subliminally tried to recreate a moment with Lizhen with another woman gave a glimpse into his mind. And every Christmas he visited the diner as Nat King Cole's Christmas Song played in the background.
With three of the women, he found that he was using them as a substitutes, something that did not bring him comfort for very long. He was told the ending to the story he had written was too sad. How does one write a happy ending when your heart is hollowed out and beyond repair? When loss and longing are your constant companions? At best the women in his bed gave him a brief sense of warmth but he found himself lonely even in someone else's arms. Passion could not replace what he was searching for. His heart was waiting on the only one who could break his solitude and give him a happy ending and he had let her slip away.
This film was visually stunning. The color palette leaned heavily on green, yellow, and red in lighting, sets, costumes, and props. The costumer set the bar too high with Maggie Cheung's cheongsams in the previous film but there were some gorgeous dresses, particularly on Zhang Zi Yi. I was pleased that the soundtrack was more diversified for this film, fitting the despondent mood perfectly. Tony Leung, Zhang Zi Yi and the rest of the cast gave superb performances. The neon train moved beyond metaphor to personal therapy as Chow worked through his feelings writing about others. In style, this film succeeded brilliantly.
Where the film let me down were the characters. Though attractive and complicated the characters were challenging to care about. Remote and difficult to read, most of them kept their feelings to themselves. And those that did reach out were often reprimanded.
2046 was a deeply melancholic look at love and regret, bordering on cynicism. By the end of the film all of the color had been drained out of the spectrum, leaving only the cold, dark mood of despair. For Chow, love was pain and "all memories were traces of tears." This film could be just like Chow-beautiful to look at but also mystifying and emotionally detached and completely irresistible to walk away from.
5/3/23
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It is not a fictional movie. It is a propaganda movie with many well-known actors/actresses.
"My Youth and I" is a film divided into three units: "Banner," "Seeing," and "Searching," focusing on the Great Northern Wilderness, the Great Western Development, and the youthful blood stories of the new era.It has a bunch of well-known actors and actresses in each unit, and the gist of the story is focused on the sacrifices of pioneers in different areas and how they make a difference in ordinary people's lives. It is another propaganda of typical Chinese movies or dramas to elevate China's power and changes over the past 30-40 years.
It is an okay movie but not that entertaining. I am giving it a 5.0 rating.
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