This movie does a good job of showing the destruction caused by war. It surpasses the blowing up of buildings and goes straight into blowing up families. The saddest part is that this was only one story compared to the millions who suffered tragedies on both sides of the situation. This was a well written and insightful piece that I just don't want to see again.
When Seita was stealing stuff and food for his sister, it reminds me the story of "Rashomon" by Akutagawa Ryunosuke. The story is about a man was contemplating whether to steal food or starve to death, he then saw a old woman trying to steal hair from dead bodies to make wigs so she can survive, the old woman told him that this was not wrong because it allowed her to survive. The man then robbed the old woman and escaped. Same for Seita, if it is for survival, is it wrong to steal...
This was a good choice because it shows how some people was forced to live during the war. It was sad to see such a fun loving girl die due to starvation. I think it was good for the young boy to stand up for his sister and not go back to the mean lady.
Well to start off, this was potentially the most depressing movie I've ever seen, but at the same time was very enjoyable to watch. Like others have said it does a great job of getting past the bombings and goes into the aftermath, and the real devastation that brutal warfare can cause. It also helps to enlighten us on just what it means to survive, and how one can put himself at great risk for those that he cares about, regardless of the hardships. I'll close by saying that after seeing this movie I don't think that any of us can really complain about having a bad day, week, or month because the character Seita really shows us just how bad it could really be.
Hotaru no haka was a depiction of the suffering of war... period. No strings attached. If your looking for a happy ending...well, your not going to find one, because wars are horrible events where people die.
There was no finger pointing at the Americans or the Japanese as being the ones at fault, just a concentration on the horror of war.
Interesting enough though, the concentration of the movie wasn't on the war between the US and Japan, rather it was a story about the overlooked, smaller war for survival of Seita and his little sister that they tragically lost in the end.
The Grave of the Fireflies was a very sad movie. The directors did an amazing job of depicting war and the struggles families go through. I felt so bad that both parents died and Seita had to take care of Setsuko. She was the sweetest little girl. To see her die made the movie even worse. Seita tried his best, but it just wasnt' good enough. His aunt was mean. Overall, if you want a depressing movie that is interesting than this is it!
I felt the film was a very powerful representation of life in late WWII Japan. Seita and Setsuko live in a time when society is coming apart, and when the world ceases to function properly. I draw issue with the idea that the film primarily deals with the themes of war. It doesn't. It deals with the inhumanity of those under stress, and the depravity of people when faced with difficulty. War may have been the cause for hard times in the film, but substitute famine or any other life changing disaster and the effect is the same. The real crime of the film is not that war destroyed the lives of the two children, but that when disaster strikes their friends and family turned their backs upon them.
It is always the innocent people who suffer from the war. The war did not start from them. However, I feel so sad whenever I see how the innocent people suffer from that. They have no choice, especially young children, but they have to live anyway. The brother tried to take care of his young and cute sister. Even though she died, their fraternal affection will last longer. Like first movie, it is also touching.I like it!
Who started war? Not civilians. Who were killed or suffered because of war? They were civilians. When I saw this movie for the first time in Japan with my family, my mother cried so hard that my littele daughter was shocked. My mother went through the same experiences as Setsuko who was starving to death, real death and had to live in the horrible condithion. The saddest part of this film for me was Setsuko put marbles in the drop can and offered rocks to her brither,Seita pretending as riceballs. For survival, people cannot take care of others, cannot share their food to others. Although we don't want to admit this kind of reality, it is natural.That's why before starting war, politicians must consider harder and harder about it.
This movie has to have been one of the most depressing and yet inspiring I have seen in a long time. The brother's love of his sister and the lengths he went to trying to provide for his sister in such horrific circumstances is inspiring. But watching the sister's deterioration made this honestly one of the hardest movies I've ever had to watch, to see such an innocent and sweet little girl have to go through such a horrible experience. But in the end I think it is an excellent movie and I recommend it at least once, but I don't know if I could watch it again.
Grave of the Fireflies was presented to us as one of the saddest movies that we would ever see. However, I did not feel that way after seeing the movie. For one, it being animated detracted its ability to evoke emotion in a western viewer, also because I was reading subtitles and not hearing it in my heart language I was also unable to appreciate the melancholy. Another point worth mentioning was the fact that within Japanese film, people are perhaps more rude than in Japan. I especially saw this in the interaction between the aunt and the children. This could be caused though by the fact that by being an outsider in Japanese culture, more cultural regulations are applied and I see the politer side of Japan.
What is interesting about this movie, along with Gojira and other movies that depict the horrors of WWII, is that neither governments involved in the war are blamed within the films. Both films were after the occupation period, but the Japanese still felt no need to place blame seeing that little would be accomplished by it. The movie is clear, even in its presentation of Japanese nationalism that it is setting out to show the horrors that war brings. It even gives a glimpse of post war and shows that even then people were still suffering and that the aftermath would not be overcome until the US began to heavily invest in Japan to make it a center of democracy to combat the spread of communism.
I really really like this movie. They did a good job showing the people's lives that were affected by the war. What i like the most about the movie is the relationship between Seita and Seisuko. He cares so much for her, and they were able to smile regard the fact that they have lost everything. The distant aunt was so evil to them. And I just wish it was more of a happy ending.
Overall, this was the most depressing anime movie I have seen. However, I can relate it back to how people's lives were back then during the war. The saddest part was the ending. What a tragic outcome when the young girl died because of starvation and the only thing she wanted were some fruit drops and good food.
Of all the movies i have watch this anime is definitely at the top of depressing movies, a little too sad if you ask me. Truthfully i really didn't want to watch this movie after the beginning 20 minutes because of the depressing vibe it gave me. It was a horrible lifestyle for the citizens for after the war. The movie did a good job of showing the little joyful girls' joyful life get turn around. First she finds out about her mothers death then she gets deserted by the mean woman, then she goes through starvation until her death.
This movie is an instant classic. Overall, it was an great movie, but sad and very depressing. It shows that the outcome of war is very crucial and has a negative impact to the society. This movie would definitely make anyone tear up and feel sad.
This had to be one of the saddest most depressing movies I have ever seen. With that being said, it was still a great story. It was a good representation and depiction of just how much is touched and destroyed by war. I was interested to hear that it was a double feature with "My Neighbor Totoro," and that "Grave of the Fireflies" was more of a success. The relationship between Seita and Setsuko was touching, and just imagining the pain of losing your mother, sister, and father and being completely alone is heartbreaking. It was an interesting movie to see, but not necessarily one i'll ever watch again.
This movie was the saddest most depressing movie I have probably ever seen. With that being said, it was a good depiction and representation on just how much is touched and destroyed by war. What upset me most about this movie was that Seita lost his mother, sister, father and all he ever had, and had to go one completely alone. I was also interested to hear that "Grave of the Fireflies," was a double feature with "My Neighbor Totoro" and that it was more successful. It was a good movie to see, but I don't think i'll watch it again.
This movie was pretty good, quite miserable if you ask me. The story was very drawn out and at times got boring but overall it was good. The movie really brought out the horror's of war. I really didn't like the aunt in this movie, she sold everything that rightly belonged to "Seito" and was an overall B@#$!. Its unbelievable how she treated the two of them when they were blood relatives, i guess the aunt and mother didn't get along and she was taking it out on Seito and his sister. This movie was sad and was very realistic in almost every aspect, its interesting to see an animated movie like this.
Seita and his younger sister Setsuko live through a very rough war-time and this movie is an exemplary animation that demonstrates how harsh it can be living in war period. The appreciation of everyone is considered in this movie as everything, every item was truly valuable to Seita and Setsuko, it shows how grateful you should be for not being in wartime. The movie is depressing yet it engages the viewer to see how these characters survive , though not all of them do and thats the sad part, very realistic movie , very effective.
Grave of the Fireflies is a movie depicting one of the many hardships brought on by war. People were forced into starvation and thievery to survive during that time period. People had to cope with deaths in their family; Seita experiencing deaths from his entire close family members until his untimely death. This movie will bring tears to your eyes the first time you watch it.
I believe that this movie depicts the wartime struggle of civilians accurately and powerfully. Even though the setting of this movie is in Japan during the WWII era. I feel that stories like this can be found all over the world where war's are taking place. It shows you the true gruesome and ugly nature of war by using innocent children as the main characters. Overall I think that the film has a very potent message that should not be shaken off lightly.
This movie is now one of my favorite movie. I loved the relationship between Seita and his sister Seisuko, how he cared for her and sheltered her through everything that happened. He was still a kid himself yet he had to care for her as a parent. Seisuko was my favorite character. She is so adorable! This movie opened up my eyes alot to issues like starvation and war. I wish they didn't have to die at the end...but I guess the fact that they did made a larger impact on the viewer.
This movie very touched me because of how the war was going on and the little girl died. I think anime as it self is a fun and interesting to read and watch today in this society. It was good, but I think it would be even more sad if it was with real people acting. Over all, it was a good movie.
Perhaps one of the most tragic movies I’ve seen in a long while. The film relates, with great accuracy, the devastation and atrocities that human beings can impose on one another. In the film, the brother and sister fight to survive amid the following desolation with courage and fortitude but in the end cannot even find enough food to stay alive. The focus of the film does not particularly point to particular Japanese or American political agendas during the war, but rather the results of the conflict on the individual.
I've seen this movie before but it was in Japanese. its one of the saddest touching anime movie I've ever watched. The best part is when Seita was being a help to his sister.... that was great to see. Moreover,when the war broke it was hard to see Seita looking for food and shelter after he left the host home that he stayed in to help himself and his sister. the part i did not like when Seita's sister died...Nevertheless, I understand how war and lack of food were major factor in her death. overall a great movie to see....
I’ve seen this movie when it first came out but I enjoyed watching it all over again. This movie really shows the struggle in the times of war when starvation is one of the main issues. It shows the struggle that people go through just to stay alive, it was really sad watching Setsuko starve to death. The movie also shows the reality that we live in, everyone are only looking after themselves even if they’re related by blood. Remember the aunt who was cruel to Setsuko and Seita? and when they decided to leave she didn’t even think about stopping me them when there’s a war going on outside.
Most people say it’s a sad movie and they wouldn’t watch it again, but I would watch it because sometimes it’s good to remind ourselves about the world that we live in. There’s still people out there starving and struggling to survive but we never really think about it till some movie come out and tells us about it. Now that’s sad.
I thought the worst thing that happen during this movie was not that the old lady didn't even share the food, the old man stop selling items to Seita, or seita and his sister living outdoors, but that Seita lived to see his mother and sister die. Though they have very little he tired to give happiness to his little sister. We already know that his sister wasn't going to make as the movie went on, but Seita tired in every way to help her heal though times I think his sister rather have him by her side than leave her there alone.
So, I know this post is a little late, but I forgot my password for the blog.
I hate to sound like a broken record, but this movie was depressing. And I didn't really care for it. The only reason I watched the whole thing was to see how the little girl died. It was really sad when she died, and it was really sad when it flashed back to scenes when she was still alive, but after a while those scenes got rediculous ( I mean did we really have to see her prick her finger while sewing??).
I suppose I would be like Setsuko in the end also if I had lost my whole family I think I might lose the will to live. Although I don't think I would have had the stomach to cremate my own sister.
A very simple yet the gentlest and the most touching war-related film I've ever seen. Not to mention how realistic it is for example when Seito and Setsuko’s aunt´s started treating them like crap and asking Seito to get a job and he need to grow up. Even though it's not exactly easy to watch the protracted deaths of two children, this is not only one of the greatest anime ever, but also an important (anti-) war film. And finally a moving masterpiece.
the movie was very sad but did a good job showing how hard thing can get during war times were everyone needs to come together as one and help each other out the movie also had some funny parts like when the little girl said the comment about the rice being theirs. I also think that the mother’s family could have taken better care of the kids then they did. I also think that the boy could have done some kind of work to help thing out with the family.
This movie was very depressing. While it was depressing it does really open your eyes to the humanity of war. Many time you just hear about civilian casualties and it is just regarded as a number on paper. The same is true when we look back at World War II and especially the war in the pacific. It is hard for us here in America to really realize the implications of the pacific campaign. We did have an attack on pearl harbor, but the majority of the war we were on offense. This movie brought to light how horrible war is and how people really suffered. Hopefully it makes people think about the individuals who are effected by war.
I was really blown away by this film. I am not a huge fan of anime, but i really enjoyed this film. The art and style of the piece created a product that was moving and not at all childlike. i feel that the medium would allow the subject to be reachable to a younger audience. i've never cried during a cartoon before.
36 comments:
Don't suppose there's any chance of me convincing you to let me bring in my copy of Dodesukaden to watch sometime before the end of the semester.
This movie does a good job of showing the destruction caused by war. It surpasses the blowing up of buildings and goes straight into blowing up families. The saddest part is that this was only one story compared to the millions who suffered tragedies on both sides of the situation. This was a well written and insightful piece that I just don't want to see again.
When Seita was stealing stuff and food for his sister, it reminds me the story of "Rashomon" by Akutagawa Ryunosuke. The story is about a man was contemplating whether to steal food or starve to death, he then saw a old woman trying to steal hair from dead bodies to make wigs so she can survive, the old woman told him that this was not wrong because it allowed her to survive. The man then robbed the old woman and escaped. Same for Seita, if it is for survival, is it wrong to steal...
This was a good choice because it shows how some people was forced to live during the war. It was sad to see such a fun loving girl die due to starvation. I think it was good for the young boy to stand up for his sister and not go back to the mean lady.
Well to start off, this was potentially the most depressing movie I've ever seen, but at the same time was very enjoyable to watch. Like others have said it does a great job of getting past the bombings and goes into the aftermath, and the real devastation that brutal warfare can cause. It also helps to enlighten us on just what it means to survive, and how one can put himself at great risk for those that he cares about, regardless of the hardships. I'll close by saying that after seeing this movie I don't think that any of us can really complain about having a bad day, week, or month because the character Seita really shows us just how bad it could really be.
Hotaru no haka was a depiction of the suffering of war... period. No strings attached.
If your looking for a happy ending...well, your not going to find one, because wars are horrible events where people die.
There was no finger pointing at the Americans or the Japanese as being the ones at fault, just a concentration on the horror of war.
Interesting enough though, the concentration of the movie wasn't on the war between the US and Japan, rather it was a story about the overlooked, smaller war for survival of Seita and his little sister that they tragically lost in the end.
The Grave of the Fireflies was a very sad movie. The directors did an amazing job of depicting war and the struggles families go through. I felt so bad that both parents died and Seita had to take care of Setsuko. She was the sweetest little girl. To see her die made the movie even worse. Seita tried his best, but it just wasnt' good enough. His aunt was mean. Overall, if you want a depressing movie that is interesting than this is it!
I felt the film was a very powerful representation of life in late WWII Japan. Seita and Setsuko live in a time when society is coming apart, and when the world ceases to function properly. I draw issue with the idea that the film primarily deals with the themes of war. It doesn't. It deals with the inhumanity of those under stress, and the depravity of people when faced with difficulty. War may have been the cause for hard times in the film, but substitute famine or any other life changing disaster and the effect is the same. The real crime of the film is not that war destroyed the lives of the two children, but that when disaster strikes their friends and family turned their backs upon them.
It is always the innocent people who suffer from the war. The war did not start from them. However, I feel so sad whenever I see how the innocent people suffer from that. They have no choice, especially young children, but they have to live anyway. The brother tried to take care of his young and cute sister. Even though she died, their fraternal affection will last longer. Like first movie, it is also touching.I like it!
Who started war? Not civilians. Who were killed or suffered because of war? They were civilians. When I saw this movie for the first time in Japan with my family, my mother cried so hard that my littele daughter was shocked. My mother went through the same experiences as Setsuko who was starving to death, real death and had to live in the horrible condithion. The saddest part of this film for me was Setsuko put marbles in the drop can and offered rocks to her brither,Seita pretending as riceballs. For survival, people cannot take care of others, cannot share their food to others.
Although we don't want to admit this kind of reality, it is natural.That's why before starting war, politicians must consider harder and harder about it.
This movie has to have been one of the most depressing and yet inspiring I have seen in a long time. The brother's love of his sister and the lengths he went to trying to provide for his sister in such horrific circumstances is inspiring. But watching the sister's deterioration made this honestly one of the hardest movies I've ever had to watch, to see such an innocent and sweet little girl have to go through such a horrible experience. But in the end I think it is an excellent movie and I recommend it at least once, but I don't know if I could watch it again.
Grave of the Fireflies was presented to us as one of the saddest movies that we would ever see. However, I did not feel that way after seeing the movie. For one, it being animated detracted its ability to evoke emotion in a western viewer, also because I was reading subtitles and not hearing it in my heart language I was also unable to appreciate the melancholy. Another point worth mentioning was the fact that within Japanese film, people are perhaps more rude than in Japan. I especially saw this in the interaction between the aunt and the children. This could be caused though by the fact that by being an outsider in Japanese culture, more cultural regulations are applied and I see the politer side of Japan.
What is interesting about this movie, along with Gojira and other movies that depict the horrors of WWII, is that neither governments involved in the war are blamed within the films. Both films were after the occupation period, but the Japanese still felt no need to place blame seeing that little would be accomplished by it. The movie is clear, even in its presentation of Japanese nationalism that it is setting out to show the horrors that war brings. It even gives a glimpse of post war and shows that even then people were still suffering and that the aftermath would not be overcome until the US began to heavily invest in Japan to make it a center of democracy to combat the spread of communism.
I really really like this movie. They did a good job showing the people's lives that were affected by the war. What i like the most about the movie is the relationship between Seita and Seisuko. He cares so much for her, and they were able to smile regard the fact that they have lost everything. The distant aunt was so evil to them. And I just wish it was more of a happy ending.
Overall, this was the most depressing anime movie I have seen. However, I can relate it back to how people's lives were back then during the war. The saddest part was the ending. What a tragic outcome when the young girl died because of starvation and the only thing she wanted were some fruit drops and good food.
Of all the movies i have watch this anime is definitely at the top of depressing movies, a little too sad if you ask me. Truthfully i really didn't want to watch this movie after the beginning 20 minutes because of the depressing vibe it gave me. It was a horrible lifestyle for the citizens for after the war.
The movie did a good job of showing the little joyful girls' joyful life get turn around. First she finds out about her mothers death then she gets deserted by the mean woman, then she goes through starvation until her death.
This movie is an instant classic. Overall, it was an great movie, but sad and very depressing. It shows that the outcome of war is very crucial and has a negative impact to the society. This movie would definitely make anyone tear up and feel sad.
This had to be one of the saddest most depressing movies I have ever seen. With that being said, it was still a great story. It was a good representation and depiction of just how much is touched and destroyed by war. I was interested to hear that it was a double feature with "My Neighbor Totoro," and that "Grave of the Fireflies" was more of a success. The relationship between Seita and Setsuko was touching, and just imagining the pain of losing your mother, sister, and father and being completely alone is heartbreaking. It was an interesting movie to see, but not necessarily one i'll ever watch again.
This movie was the saddest most depressing movie I have probably ever seen. With that being said, it was a good depiction and representation on just how much is touched and destroyed by war. What upset me most about this movie was that Seita lost his mother, sister, father and all he ever had, and had to go one completely alone. I was also interested to hear that "Grave of the Fireflies," was a double feature with "My Neighbor Totoro" and that it was more successful. It was a good movie to see, but I don't think i'll watch it again.
This movie was pretty good, quite miserable if you ask me. The story was very drawn out and at times got boring but overall it was good. The movie really brought out the horror's of war. I really didn't like the aunt in this movie, she sold everything that rightly belonged to "Seito" and was an overall B@#$!. Its unbelievable how she treated the two of them when they were blood relatives, i guess the aunt and mother didn't get along and she was taking it out on Seito and his sister. This movie was sad and was very realistic in almost every aspect, its interesting to see an animated movie like this.
Seita and his younger sister Setsuko live through a very rough war-time and this movie is an exemplary animation that demonstrates how harsh it can be living in war period. The appreciation of everyone is considered in this movie as everything, every item was truly valuable to Seita and Setsuko, it shows how grateful you should be for not being in wartime. The movie is depressing yet it engages the viewer to see how these characters survive , though not all of them do and thats the sad part, very realistic movie , very effective.
Grave of the Fireflies is a movie depicting one of the many hardships brought on by war. People were forced into starvation and thievery to survive during that time period. People had to cope with deaths in their family; Seita experiencing deaths from his entire close family members until his untimely death. This movie will bring tears to your eyes the first time you watch it.
I believe that this movie depicts the wartime struggle of civilians accurately and powerfully. Even though the setting of this movie is in Japan during the WWII era. I feel that stories like this can be found all over the world where war's are taking place. It shows you the true gruesome and ugly nature of war by using innocent children as the main characters. Overall I think that the film has a very potent message that should not be shaken off lightly.
This movie is now one of my favorite movie. I loved the relationship between Seita and his sister Seisuko, how he cared for her and sheltered her through everything that happened. He was still a kid himself yet he had to care for her as a parent. Seisuko was my favorite character. She is so adorable! This movie opened up my eyes alot to issues like starvation and war. I wish they didn't have to die at the end...but I guess the fact that they did made a larger impact on the viewer.
This movie very touched me because of how the war was going on and the little girl died. I think anime as it self is a fun and interesting to read and watch today in this society. It was good, but I think it would be even more sad if it was with real people acting. Over all, it was a good movie.
Perhaps one of the most tragic movies I’ve seen in a long while. The film relates, with great accuracy, the devastation and atrocities that human beings can impose on one another. In the film, the brother and sister fight to survive amid the following desolation with courage and fortitude but in the end cannot even find enough food to stay alive. The focus of the film does not particularly point to particular Japanese or American political agendas during the war, but rather the results of the conflict on the individual.
I've seen this movie before but it was in Japanese. its one of the saddest touching anime movie I've ever watched. The best part is when Seita was being a help to his sister.... that was great to see. Moreover,when the war broke it was hard to see Seita looking for food and shelter after he left the host home that he stayed in to help himself and his sister. the part i did not like when Seita's sister died...Nevertheless, I understand how war and lack of food were major factor in her death. overall a great movie to see....
I’ve seen this movie when it first came out but I enjoyed watching it all over again. This movie really shows the struggle in the times of war when starvation is one of the main issues. It shows the struggle that people go through just to stay alive, it was really sad watching Setsuko starve to death. The movie also shows the reality that we live in, everyone are only looking after themselves even if they’re related by blood. Remember the aunt who was cruel to Setsuko and Seita?
and when they decided to leave she didn’t even think about stopping me them when there’s a war going on outside.
Most people say it’s a sad movie and they wouldn’t watch it again, but I would watch it because sometimes it’s good to remind ourselves about the world that we live in. There’s still people out there starving and struggling to survive but we never really think about it till some movie come out and tells us about it. Now that’s sad.
I thought the worst thing that happen during this movie was not that the old lady didn't even share the food, the old man stop selling items to Seita, or seita and his sister living outdoors, but that Seita lived to see his mother and sister die. Though they have very little he tired to give happiness to his little sister. We already know that his sister wasn't going to make as the movie went on, but Seita tired in every way to help her heal though times I think his sister rather have him by her side than leave her there alone.
So, I know this post is a little late, but I forgot my password for the blog.
I hate to sound like a broken record, but this movie was depressing. And I didn't really care for it. The only reason I watched the whole thing was to see how the little girl died. It was really sad when she died, and it was really sad when it flashed back to scenes when she was still alive, but after a while those scenes got rediculous ( I mean did we really have to see her prick her finger while sewing??).
I suppose I would be like Setsuko in the end also if I had lost my whole family I think I might lose the will to live. Although I don't think I would have had the stomach to cremate my own sister.
A very simple yet the gentlest and the most touching war-related film I've ever seen. Not to mention how realistic it is for example when Seito and Setsuko’s aunt´s started treating them like crap and asking Seito to get a job and he need to grow up. Even though it's not exactly easy to watch the protracted deaths of two children, this is not only one of the greatest anime ever, but also an important (anti-) war film. And finally a moving masterpiece.
the movie was very sad but did a good job showing how hard thing can get during war times were everyone needs to come together as one and help each other out the movie also had some funny parts like when the little girl said the comment about the rice being theirs. I also think that the mother’s family could have taken better care of the kids then they did. I also think that the boy could have done some kind of work to help thing out with the family.
This movie was very depressing. While it was depressing it does really open your eyes to the humanity of war. Many time you just hear about civilian casualties and it is just regarded as a number on paper. The same is true when we look back at World War II and especially the war in the pacific. It is hard for us here in America to really realize the implications of the pacific campaign. We did have an attack on pearl harbor, but the majority of the war we were on offense. This movie brought to light how horrible war is and how people really suffered. Hopefully it makes people think about the individuals who are effected by war.
I was really blown away by this film. I am not a huge fan of anime, but i really enjoyed this film. The art and style of the piece created a product that was moving and not at all childlike. i feel that the medium would allow the subject to be reachable to a younger audience. i've never cried during a cartoon before.
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