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Syriana
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Syriana

2005
Drama
Suspense/Thriller
2h 8m
A political thriller that unfolds against the intrigues and corruption of the global oil industry. From the players brokering back-room deals in Washington to the men toiling in the oil fields of the Persian Gulf, the film's multiple storylines weave together to illuminate the human consequences of the fierce pursuit of wealth and power.
Directed by:
Stephen Gaghan Stephen Gaghan
Written by:
Robert Baer Stephen Gaghan Stephen Gaghan
+1 more
Starring:
Amanda Peet Amanda Peet William Hurt William Hurt Chris Cooper Chris Cooper Christopher Plummer Christopher Plummer Matt Damon Matt Damon Viola Davis Viola Davis George Clooney George Clooney Tim Blake Nelson Tim Blake Nelson Jeffrey Wright Jeffrey Wright Alexander Siddig Alexander Siddig Mark Strong Mark Strong Thomas McCarthy Thomas McCarthy
More
Genres:
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
Country:
USA
Languages:
English, French, Mandarin, Persian, Urdu, Arabic
imdb More information at IMDb
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Syriana

2005
Drama
Suspense/Thriller
2h 8m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 50.86% from 4742 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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djrossdjross
Rated 16 Mar 2011
45
34th
The network of characters, connections and plots (à la TRAFFIC) may be very 21st-century and very "intelligent" in its conception of power as diffuse and dispersed rather than centralised, but in this case at least the result is cinematically uninteresting. In political terms, the question must be: if the goal is to raise the awareness of large audiences via a mass medium that supposedly draws a greater crowd than books, journalism and documentaries, then why concoct something so tedious?
Rated 16 Mar 2011
fredericg54frederic_g54
Rated 18 Oct 2008
8
78th
(2nd viewing) Wickedly intelligent and features a lot of praiseworthy performances. As far as thrillers go, it's one of the best: great cast all around and endlessly intriguing. Recommended!
Rated 18 Oct 2008
backwardsuitbackwardsuit
Rated 13 Nov 2014
54
16th
Global oil industry is shady and corrupt, get it? Cleverness is a poor excuse to bore the hell out of your audience Mr Gaghan. Quite relevant ideas but needlessly incoherent writing and has some strange kind of smugness about it that manages to crush a story I politically sympathize with. There is a difference between expecting your audience to be intelligent and expecting your audience have patience for your self-indulgent narrative ambitions.
Rated 13 Nov 2014
doctor7doctor7
Rated 25 Feb 2007
95
98th
A powerful film with astounding acting, especially from George Clooney who well deserved the Oscar for best supporting actor. The movie is very fast paced but with dialog and plot progression, not action. This will undoubtedly overwhelm and confuse the average viewer, that and a very strong anti-globalization/Americanization message may turn off the average Joe. Still this is one of the best movies you will ever see if you can handle the subject matter and how it is presented.
Rated 25 Feb 2007
bhmBhm
Rated 14 Aug 2007
95
99th
This movie requires you to be on your toes and it presumes that you're not a retarded mouth breather. Excellent acting, fantastic story, believable characters and a wonderful music score.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
moribunnyMoribunny
Rated 31 Mar 2009
55
44th
A lot of American movies of the 00's remind me of TV dramas. The same smartypants writing geared to constantly interest and intrigue, the same restless style of directing. Syriana is slick but superficial.
Rated 31 Mar 2009
kavuKavu
Rated 04 Sep 2008
70
48th
With an impressive cast and a good screenplay, it would be great if it wasn't so boring. I blame Gaghan's directing.
Rated 04 Sep 2008
ozymandius10ozymandius10
Rated 14 Aug 2007
85
90th
Disturbing movie about oil, money, and politics. How often to you hear that (way too often).
Rated 14 Aug 2007
timmotimmo
Rated 14 Aug 2007
90
66th
AWESOME cinematography. AWESOME performances. AWESOMEly confusing unless you do a little bit of research.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
thedenizenTheDenizen
Rated 02 Jan 2007
55
32nd
I could barely keep track of what was going on because I could barely stay awake during long stretches of this film.
Rated 02 Jan 2007
reversereverse
Rated 28 May 2012
80
72nd
A movie well worth watching, but you better bring some patience. Syriana takes its time to connect the multible storylines it tells.
Rated 28 May 2012
astrakhanastrakhan
Rated 08 Apr 2009
68
13th
The story of a man who smuggled half the world's oil back to America by concealing it in his beard.
Rated 08 Apr 2009
teddedonTedDedon
Rated 20 Mar 2007
60
27th
Convoluted and pretentious.
Rated 20 Mar 2007
mjvmoviemanMJVmovieMan
Rated 25 Mar 2007
31
7th
Critically-praised junk. Fails to let the audience join in, and keeps playing scene after scene with little or no context.
Rated 25 Mar 2007
turinturin
Rated 16 Sep 2007
77
85th
It's a very interesting view into the oil business, presenting the issue from multiple points of views: oil companies, american politicians, spies, conservative emirs, progressive reformists in oil-reach countries, terrorists and many more. The story avoids oversimplification to show it points, which makes it so much more powerful. However, the myriads of threads and characters in a not-so-long (2h) film makes the narration very hard to follow - you can't get everything in one seeing.
Rated 16 Sep 2007
mentaculusMentaculus
Rated 02 Sep 2008
55
28th
A political thriller that does not talk down to its audience, but it doesn't explain a whole lot, either. Convoluted but watchable, with a Traffic-kind of false grittiness. Scenes of torture undermine its purpose of inspiring thought - and merely cause queasiness. Its emphasis on unneeded action scenes confuses. Can you tell I'm disappointed?
Rated 02 Sep 2008
okkervilOkkervil
Rated 03 May 2011
90
97th
A phenomenal piece of filmmaking. A great cast all perform supurbly well, but it should be noted that Clooney is another level of brilliant here. Gaghan's direction is understated, but emotive and powerful, and it has to be said the musical score is very subtly effective. "Syriana" is a complex and facininating film and deals with its subject matter with the upmost care and intelligence. Highly recommended.
Rated 03 May 2011
judge_holdenJudge Holden
Rated 18 Dec 2011
4
51st
I've actually been meaning to rank this for a while now. Part of me wants to say that it's not so bad, just kind of dull. However, another part of me wants to say that, yes, this actually *was* bad and fucking dull as dirt. So I suppose I will take the safe, King Solomon-inspired route and chop a man in half and just call it mediocre.
Rated 18 Dec 2011
thedicemanTheDiceman
Rated 01 Mar 2007
65
73rd
Great film.
Rated 01 Mar 2007
cagedwisdomcagedwisdom
Rated 21 Jun 2007
75
65th
Grabs you from the very beginning and refuses to let go until it's over. One of the most thought-provoking movies you'll ever see, in addition to being incredibly exciting, touching and overall very interesting. However, it will require your full attention for 2 hours and the story moves at an alarming pace. Not for everyone.
Rated 21 Jun 2007
quickyQuicky
Rated 15 Jan 2009
78
78th
George Clooney puts down a much better performance than what I'm used to from him in this intriguing film about the USA, the oil industry, terrorism and the Middle East. The story is quite intense and fast paced, so you really have to pay attention, but Stephen Gaghan made sure I wasn't going to fall asleep during this one.
Rated 15 Jan 2009
robotjazzrobotjazz
Rated 14 Aug 2007
66
51st
Interesting, with great potential, but so damn confusing.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
larmorlarmor
Rated 26 Dec 2019
39
24th
A mess of a movie. It only seems intelligent because it's just way too fast-paced for a viewer to get everything the first time. And to some extent, it makes it fail at delivering a powerful convincing message, because so much is overlooked, thus making some characters caricatures.
Rated 26 Dec 2019
johnshaftjohnshaft
Rated 02 Jul 2009
80
70th
Good, but a little too cold and detached. Although, I suppose that it may be the point to be cold and detached. Still, very informative and intelligent.
Rated 02 Jul 2009
mystericemysterice
Rated 14 Aug 2007
75
73rd
A good political thriller. Very good acting by the leads.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
getmoneygetmoney
Rated 17 Mar 2012
56
12th
Imprecise and difficult to follow.
Rated 17 Mar 2012
mistereeemistereee
Rated 11 Feb 2024
20
6th
What a disappointment
Rated 11 Feb 2024
matthew_parkinsonMatthew Parkinson
Rated 21 Jul 2012
50
47th
Syriana isn't a complete waste -- it's well-shot, has good performances and some scenes are actually fairly engaging -- but unless you have somehow managed to avoid watching or reading any news about the oil industry, or just don't think a lot about it or politics, there's no point that it'll make that you won't already know. It doesn't push any boundaries and it's been cut down too much to be of much interest.
Rated 21 Jul 2012
walkearthwalkearth
Rated 31 Mar 2018
60
60th
An important film that needs to be seen, however difficult of a watch it may be in trying to follow the different storylines in detail and to comprehend the impact they have on each other interlinked, in the global world we're living in. Matt Damon's storyline was superb, and so was the Pakistani fellas' brainwashing tale. What the film begs for is reading about it, the source material and multiple viewings - then the finer details and complexities might come out to the surface.
Rated 31 Mar 2018
vincentevincente
Rated 14 Aug 2007
33
14th
null
Rated 14 Aug 2007
fudgiebfudgieb
Rated 17 Aug 2007
89
65th
A tad bit confusing, but rewarding nonetheless. I think it honestly shows how corrupt the oil-industry (and the U.S.) is. Of course our Governement will deny any shred of proof and then they'll kidnap and torture me and make me drink their crude.
Rated 17 Aug 2007
ronthedogronthedog
Rated 28 Mar 2010
78
31st
Very convoluted spy thriller with a political message. Not much to say about cinematic technique here, apart from some quite steady steadycam, it's all in the plot or lack of. It just about works and I'll watch it again, but it's not at the top of my list.
Rated 28 Mar 2010
luthar15luthar15
Rated 18 Dec 2008
95
95th
vince_leoVince Leo
Rated 14 Aug 2007
73
67th
The performances are top-notch.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
pigletPiglet
Rated 08 Jun 2009
80
91st
Politically right up my ally, and well executed as well.
Rated 08 Jun 2009
chroniclerChronicler
Rated 06 Jan 2014
99
83rd
a fantastic, multi-tiered political thriller that still relevant today as it was in 2005; strong cast putting in great performances particularly Clooney's. Definitely recommend it for those who like political thrillers or thought provoking films.
Rated 06 Jan 2014
rdwn29905rdwn29905
Rated 14 Aug 2007
86
74th
a deeply moving, complex, and disturbing tale
Rated 14 Aug 2007
floortapfloortap
Rated 28 Dec 2007
84
64th
Very complex movie. Had to watch it twice and read a bunch of stuff about it just to find out that it's -SUPPOSED- to be confusing and to have huge gaps in the plot-lines (for you to fill in). If you like piecing together disjointed political movies in your head, this movie is great. If you want a relatively easy to follow plot with a conclusion, this movie is terrible.
Rated 28 Dec 2007
jwlietajwlieta
Rated 27 Nov 2008
75
15th
GRAN CONCEPTO, PERO NO SUPIERON TRANSMITIR LA IDEA
Rated 27 Nov 2008
cestmoicestmoi
Rated 15 May 2008
75
48th
Solid.
Rated 15 May 2008
oedipaxOedipax
Rated 14 Aug 2007
40
11th
Not very good, but I admire its intent.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
hellboy76hellboy76
Rated 22 Sep 2010
68
65th
Incredibly complex, I need to rewatch it again.
Rated 22 Sep 2010
muutanetmuutanet
Rated 26 Dec 2008
72
68th
Most of this flick is in right place. But unfortunately it takes too much butt to tolerate it all through.
Rated 26 Dec 2008
fra_paolofra paolo
Rated 08 Mar 2013
5
2nd
Don't be fooled: this is not a thriller. It is very worthy, and very soporific. Worth seeing if you're young, and idealistic. Not so much for those of us who lived through the Cold War, and are used to this sort of thing.
Rated 08 Mar 2013
chuchaquiChuchaqui
Rated 01 Dec 2006
90
75th
Great effort to make a movie about the oil industry. A bit too complicated for the regular viewer at times, but still: Great movie.
Rated 01 Dec 2006
leshiileshii
Rated 14 Aug 2007
89
90th
I spent too much time trying to figure out what was going on so don't do that and you'll like it a lot better.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
achewoodACHEWOOD
Rated 14 Feb 2009
68
12th
confusing; what was it about
Rated 14 Feb 2009
infamous639infamous639
Rated 12 Nov 2007
20
0th
The worst movie ever made
Rated 12 Nov 2007
quickyapiQuickyAPI
Rated 18 Dec 2009
72
68th
George Clooney puts down a much better performance than what I'm used to from him in this intriguing film about the USA, the oil industry, terrorism and the Middle East. The story is quite intense and fast paced, so you really have to pay attention, but Stephen Gaghan made sure I wasn't going to fall asleep during this one.
Rated 18 Dec 2009
ejsjrncejsjrnc
Rated 11 Jun 2010
60
15th
A bit too cerebral for my tastes. George Clooney does a pretty good turn as a burnt out CIA agent. Matt Damon is a dick.....again.....
Rated 11 Jun 2010
cowmanCowman
Rated 21 Jan 2008
65
40th
I didn't really get it to be honest.
Rated 21 Jan 2008
ottermanotterman
Rated 14 Aug 2007
96
96th
Great movie, fine performance by Clooney, kept me engaged through the whole thing.(which is hard to do)
Rated 14 Aug 2007
andaybandayb
Rated 24 Apr 2022
63
58th
it's all right. have to say i'm not a fan of this "small stories intersecting" kind of filmmaking, and i'm glad this fad is over. gaghan seems to be a better writer than a director, and much of this movies punch comes from the strong performance of the leads. worth a watch, but somewhat forgettable in the end.
Rated 24 Apr 2022
billkerwinbillkerwin
Rated 22 Dec 2009
80
42nd
It's heart was in the right place, but the story just didn't grip me.
Rated 22 Dec 2009
nimnonimno
Rated 12 Sep 2007
55
46th
Some of the torture scenes are very hard to watch. It was a very well-done movie though. I think very realistic in most cases.
Rated 12 Sep 2007
olympicheroOlympichero
Rated 14 Aug 2007
40
7th
No blood for oil!
Rated 14 Aug 2007
svicciarellisvicciarelli
Rated 14 Aug 2007
88
68th
Brilliant but indecipherable in parts. Definitely worth watching though.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
curioushaircurioushair
Rated 08 Sep 2007
85
92nd
Scathingly smart and finely nuanced fiction of the fractured complexities of the Middle East. The blistering pace and tight wound plotting require that you sit up and pay close attention. One line of dialogue may recontextualise everything. Compelling and brilliant.
Rated 08 Sep 2007
boriajboriaj
Rated 11 Dec 2015
30
4th
Finely-produced, well-performed, top-notch Hollywoodian anti-West propaganda.
Rated 11 Dec 2015
filliganFilligan
Rated 01 Feb 2010
88
71st
Syriana is, to put it rather simply, far more original and intelligent than I thought it would be, and it is most likely the best film to tackle Middle Eastern current affairs (to put it in layman's terms) that I've seen so far.
Rated 01 Feb 2010
3drevelation3dRevelation
Rated 10 Mar 2012
79
79th
An interesting look at how oil influences the decisions and lives of all involved.There are some nice performances here especially from Clooney. Overall a good thriller that comes to a very nice end.
Rated 10 Mar 2012
agentsnipeAgentSnipe
Rated 14 Aug 2007
79
59th
It's sad, because I know that this is an important film that tries to shed some light on some very real and very current issues in our world, specifically the issues surrounding the global oil industry. The sad part is that I could not understand any of it. It's a confusing and complex film that is impossible to break down for the average viewer. And by average viewer, I mean the viewer that gets the majority of their news from The Daily Show.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
monstergearMonsterGear
Rated 22 Mar 2007
81
67th
A bit confusing and such but rather interesting look at the outlandishly confusing and multifaceted situation in the Middle East.
Rated 22 Mar 2007
mdruskinmdruskin
Rated 14 Aug 2007
55
9th
Syriana is a movie trying to expose all the sides of the oil business, from global government politics to personal lives of workers on the oil fields. The movie is very similar to "Traffic", only Traffic lasts 3 hours and deals with three stories (clearly differentiated by color filters and charachters), while Syriana deals with 4 interweaving stories in just over 2 hours. This causes it to be one of the most confusing and complex movies I have ever seen, and one viewing cannot possibly be en
Rated 14 Aug 2007
cranialbonerCranialBoner
Rated 14 Aug 2007
84
55th
Fantastic political Drama. I enjoyed every second of it, despite the fact it was hard to follow at some points.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
dunbardunbar
Rated 14 Jan 2011
70
44th
Not an impossible film to watch by any means, but it was perhaps a bit low on the engagement factor.
Rated 14 Jan 2011
stflyst_fly
Rated 22 Aug 2007
90
95th
Excellent tale of how the USA manipulates and corrupts the lives billions for the sake of oil.
Rated 22 Aug 2007
loimprevistoloimprevisto
Rated 30 Aug 2010
70
16th
Usually I like this kind of movie... not sure why it didn't work for me.
Rated 30 Aug 2010
aushabfanaus_hab_fan
Rated 14 Aug 2007
72
36th
Too many questions posed, not enough answers.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
philamentalphilamental
Rated 11 Mar 2019
66
47th
Solid but complex political thriller. Will definitely require (and probably benefit from) a second viewing.
Rated 11 Mar 2019
idiot27000idiot27000
Rated 14 Aug 2007
69
45th
Great subject matter, but the execution is too confusing for even the most patient of audience members.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
timelesstimeless
Rated 25 Feb 2018
60
15th
Syriana isn't particularly a bad movie but its hard-to-follow storyline(s) makes it a drag to sit in front of the screen for two hours.
Rated 25 Feb 2018
equivokeequivoke
Rated 12 Oct 2014
90
69th
Based on the writings of veteran CIA operative, Bob Baer ("See No Evil"), this multi-layered drama hits just the right staccato pummeling to evoke the maelstrom that is the Middle East. The sadism of CIA 'protect our ass', the pragmatism of beheading sources, the terrorism of the oil multinationals, all limn a human marimba of shaken, not stirred, skulls.
Rated 12 Oct 2014
patabongopatabongo
Rated 04 Aug 2007
62
12th
If I had time to pause the DVD and refer to a scholarly index on middle-eastern relations, I would probably have been able to follow this.
Rated 04 Aug 2007
glm01glm01
Rated 08 Jun 2015
79
61st
78.500
Rated 08 Jun 2015
draven88draven88
Rated 06 Jul 2009
71
5th
snooze fest
Rated 06 Jul 2009
redmachinedredmachined
Rated 14 Aug 2007
10
41st
Saw it tonight at a sneak preview (Tues. 13 Dec 05) and cannot get the stink of hyperparanoia out of my hair, clothes, or nose. All the hullabaloo of "OMG OIL CONSPIARCY!!!1" completely sodomises and leaves for dead in a ditch what could have been a great movie, had another plot foil been used. As it is, all hope for Syriana's being a good movie is lying face-down in the cold mud, bleeding profusely from the anus.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
determinist1determinist1
Rated 15 Nov 2008
95
91st
One of the best movies of 2005. Thought provoking and fast. My favorite Clooney film.
Rated 15 Nov 2008
jherman89Jherman89
Rated 14 Aug 2007
78
73rd
Despite a shifty screenplay, the actors performances keep the movie above water.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
ashwilliamsAshWilliams
Rated 22 Sep 2008
70
30th
Too convoluted. Did not have to be that way to make its worthwhile points. By being so convoluted it just made me frustrated.
Rated 22 Sep 2008
tromeotromeo
Rated 16 Feb 2009
75
12th
Disquieting but a little obvious. Most people don't' understand the specific connections between oil, power, and money but at least this movie makes you thinks about them
Rated 16 Feb 2009
tripwyreTripwyre
Rated 18 Mar 2008
92
93rd
A powerful film that examines the cost of oil from just about every angle. This is how to properly pull off a sprawling film about social issues (Paul Haggis, take note). The cast is terrific, and the film is hauntingly bleak. It's incredibly complex, but the connections between all the stories, and the intricate details of the questionable corporate merger, become clearer with repeat viewings. For my money, this is the best film of 2005.
Rated 18 Mar 2008
jauntygirljauntygirl
Rated 20 Oct 2007
85
71st
Kept my interest, didn't seem cookie-cutter, although there were probably too many stories, meaning some were under-developed (Jeffrey Wright's storyline in particular).
Rated 20 Oct 2007
eric_janeric-jan
Rated 26 Jan 2009
65
30th
Didnt impress me much.
Rated 26 Jan 2009
ytadelYtadel
Rated 14 Aug 2007
7
84th
The film that launched a million dark, epic political dramas, many of them bad (see Lions for Lambs for more info). But this one is no slouch, it's a relentless, complex, well-acted, and often hopless look into the cycle that begets war and terrorism. You'd better believe it's dense, though.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
jhhenkeljhhenkel
Rated 14 Aug 2007
75
50th
Too much detail, too many threads to support that much detail. Ultimately not a lot to hold everything together.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
lookinglandLookingLand
Rated 16 Nov 2007
60
69th
depressing, but well-made.
Rated 16 Nov 2007
jenks101jenks101
Rated 27 Feb 2007
84
56th
This movie was ok
Rated 27 Feb 2007
hdperez88hdperez88
Rated 16 Jan 2009
0
1st
Ouch, my brain! I love political thrillers, but this was too much. It didn't make ANY sense the first 2, 3 viewings. Stories like this are more suited for novels, where there is, you know, more time to explain.
Rated 16 Jan 2009
shoegaysshoegays
Rated 03 Jul 2012
75
51st
A solid enough flick that looks at the ins and outs of political economy and the influence of private money on geopolitics, but for people who already have a grasp on the rules of the game, it never really surprises.
Rated 03 Jul 2012
wraithwraith
Rated 12 Sep 2007
40
12th
Needed a more unifying narrative. Praised for its political content instead of its content.
Rated 12 Sep 2007
johannaJohanna
Rated 31 Jan 2008
70
31st
A good thriller but you forget the plot quite soon
Rated 31 Jan 2008
dlchobbesdlchobbes
Rated 01 Jan 2011
75
44th
Smart
Rated 01 Jan 2011
afx237viafx237vi
Rated 06 Sep 2011
75
77th
I went into this expecting a more conventional thriller, so I was surprised (but not disappointed) to find a sprawling, multi-stranded examination of the the global oil industry and how it affects everyone, from billionaire Arab princes right down to the poorest migrant worker and everything in between. It's intriguing, exciting, but most of all it's incredibly thought-provoking.
Rated 06 Sep 2011
moviefan99moviefan99
Rated 18 Aug 2007
80
51st
I enjoyed this movie for the multiple story lines and good performances, even though I couldn't explain the plot if my life depended on it.
Rated 18 Aug 2007
stlouisphilestlouisphile
Rated 05 Dec 2006
95
84th
Who'd a thunk an overrate sexiest man alive would make a terrifically taut, satisfying movie? I did. So I saw it twice just to make sure.
Rated 05 Dec 2006
smokebonessmoke_BONES
Rated 28 May 2007
80
5th
didnt do it for me
Rated 28 May 2007
stapathyStApathy
Rated 04 Aug 2007
82
58th
Somewhat overly long, and requires monsterous attention span. But fails to disspaoint.
Rated 04 Aug 2007
ohcalhounohcalhoun
Rated 14 Aug 2007
45
19th
the individual scenes were pretty cool but i was not adept enough to pin it all together. it was really hard to watch but the muslim side plot was great the rest not so much from my point of view!
Rated 14 Aug 2007
blueteslaBlueTesla
Rated 01 Apr 2007
80
57th
A very suspenseful movie, excellent.
Rated 01 Apr 2007

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