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The Meaning of Life
The Meaning of Life
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The Meaning of Life

The Meaning of Life

1983
Comedy, Musical
1h 47m
The comedy team takes a look at life in all its stages in their own uniquely silly way. (imdb)

Directed by:

Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones

Screenwriter:

John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Graham Chapman, Terry Jones

Starring:

John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam, Matt Frewer, Eric Idle, Graham Chapman, Terry Jones, Carol Cleveland, Patricia Quinn, Simon Jones, Andrew MacLachlan, Judy Loe

Franchise:

Monty Python

Genres:

Comedy, Musical

AKA:

Monty Python's The Meaning of Life

Country:

UK

Language:

English
imdb IMDb
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The Meaning of Life

1983
Comedy, Musical
1h 47m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 61.72% from 5984 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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jimmynmujimmynmu
Rated 28 Jan 2007
77
71st
More like an episode of flying circus rather then a film, but still funny. Not as good as the Life of Brian and Holy Grail partly because it doesn't have a story.
Rated 28 Jan 2007
okkervilOkkervil
Rated 31 Jul 2009
81
86th
Never understand those who see this as the weakest Python movie. Genuinely hilarious. "Try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations".
Rated 31 Jul 2009
arkadiaarkadia
Rated 15 Apr 2009
70
46th
A couple of funny sketches (I love the battlefield one) and two great songs among a whole lot of boringness. The best parts may be the opening credits and the simple closing message.
Rated 15 Apr 2009
triffidtriffid
Rated 14 Aug 2007
70
18th
As much as I love Monty Python, "The Meaning of Life" doesn't really work as a film. There are some moments of brilliance ("Every sperm is sacred" is incredible), but the rest of it is too fragmented and sometimes just plain unfunny.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
magbMagb
Rated 14 Aug 2007
70
39th
Not bad, but it isn't half as funny as Holy Grail and the satire doesn't work as well as that of Life of Brian. Whether it's because of the much-cited disjointedness or because the material just isn't as good, I can't quite say. But then, any movie that has both "Every Sperm Is Sacred" and the "Galaxy Song" can't be all bad. And it isn't.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
cmonsterCMonster
Rated 29 Mar 2011
85
80th
I hope heaven is actually like that.
Rated 29 Mar 2011
doctor7doctor7
Rated 03 May 2009
76
64th
Certainly more of a critique than a comedy but still delivers plenty of laughs. Though I think you have to have actually experienced what they're refercing to fully appreciate the humour of it. While I think it's definitely the weakest of the Monty Python films it's still entertaining as long as you're not easily offended.
Rated 03 May 2009
moribunnyMoribunny
Rated 14 Aug 2007
58
49th
A bit disappointing coming from the people who made Life of Brian, as well as the Holy Grail.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
egregiusEgregius
Rated 04 Sep 2020
73
25th
The unfunny one. Still worth it for a few of the sketches, but being a mix of funny and unfunny sketches is essentially where it went all wrong to begin with.
Rated 04 Sep 2020
fuzzleshnopsfuzzleshnops
Rated 20 May 2020
84
69th
My favorite part was when Eric Idle pops out of the fridge and Willy Wonka-style sings about the cosmos to a transvestite Terry Jones who is awe-stricken... before she gets her liver taken out alive by a straight-playing (instead of the usual silly) John Cleese.
Rated 20 May 2020
kasperlKasperL
Rated 11 Nov 2017
60
50th
Uneven as hell, but every time I was just about to write it off for being too dated, silly or strange, something ingenious (sometimes flat-out brilliant) would come along.
Rated 11 Nov 2017
rufamRufam
Rated 29 Mar 2011
75
72nd
Not as consistently funny as "The Holy Grail", although even more hysterical, "The Meaning of Life" is nevertheless an audacious, wacky and occasionally laugh-out-loud hilarious parody. In the end, you may have learned nothing about the meaning of life, but it's a hugely entertaining experience, exquisitely balancing between vitriolic wit and gross-out grandiosity. And although several of the segments in the first part don't quite work, there are too many priceless moments here to dismiss it.
Rated 29 Mar 2011
billkerwinbillkerwin
Rated 28 Jan 2010
81
48th
Spotty, but very funny in parts.
Rated 28 Jan 2010
chemical404chemical404
Rated 18 Oct 2009
65
71st
Philosophy, sex, vomit, absurdity, surrealism and satire - everything is well mixed in this film by the creative minds that are behind the Monty Python's name. More a bunch of loosely connected sketches than a real movie it really is a mixed bag. Some bits are almost genius while others are just plain stupid.
Rated 18 Oct 2009
moraesfelipemoraesfelipe
Rated 10 Sep 2009
73
76th
Still daring and original, but not quite funny as the Holy Grail and Life of Brian. The short feature The Crimson Permanent Assurance might be the best thing here.
Rated 10 Sep 2009
anselmi86Anselmi86
Rated 27 Jul 2009
62
40th
Definitely worth seeing for the scene in which the young kids get destroyed in the rugby match.
Rated 27 Jul 2009
fenixdownfenixdown
Rated 17 Jul 2009
71
39th
Definitely the most sketchy of the Python films. Some of the sketches work, and some don't.
Rated 17 Jul 2009
nunstranglernunstrangler
Rated 16 Mar 2009
71
60th
Funny, technically impressive film.
Rated 16 Mar 2009
omicron91Omicron91
Rated 15 Oct 2008
90
75th
Just so bizarre and awesome.
Rated 15 Oct 2008
tathieltathiel
Rated 28 Sep 2008
85
84th
I'm a Python fan, hence I like it, but it's not one of their best movies. There are some really good ideas, funny, but it was weaker than all the others.
Rated 28 Sep 2008
prowlerprowler
Rated 30 Aug 2008
67
65th
no brian or grail, but it's still monty python
Rated 30 Aug 2008
hankhank
Rated 20 Jul 2008
65
28th
Great songs, but a little drawn out and random. Some not-funny stuff.
Rated 20 Jul 2008
nandorizzinandorizzi
Rated 27 May 2008
65
52nd
The most weak of the movies of Monty Python. But that does not mean anything because everyone is good.
Rated 27 May 2008
purgatospurgatos
Rated 10 May 2008
50
16th
A couple of good jokes but mostly just boring.
Rated 10 May 2008
joojooJooJoo
Rated 05 May 2008
5
81st
I love the progression of sketches here; it took a few rewatches but I'm convinced that the opening segment is a genius slice of Gilliam distraction from the typical format. The musical numbers are highlights - elaborate and clever to an absurd degree.
Rated 05 May 2008
spamhead80spamhead80
Rated 13 Mar 2008
92
93rd
If you don't love "Every Sperm is Sacred" you are dead inside.
Rated 13 Mar 2008
fuzzixfuzzix
Rated 12 Jan 2008
95
99th
The actual, real meaning of life!
Rated 12 Jan 2008
eveeluneveelun
Rated 28 Nov 2007
63
26th
Some great stuff here (e.g. the opening sequence, "Every Sperm is Sacred") but it's not consistent and the sketch format doesn't translate to film as well as Python's previous narrative features.
Rated 28 Nov 2007
dustydDustyd
Rated 15 Sep 2007
60
39th
Weakest material from the troop still has it' share of wit and laughs.
Rated 15 Sep 2007
martintellerMartinTeller
Rated 14 Aug 2007
62
20th
Firstly, the sketch format just doesn't work for a full-length picture. Secondly, the movie relies too heavily on shock value, as if the aging Pythons were desperate to show they were still naughty and edgy. There are funny bits, but on the whole there's not enough laughs.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
omniavanitasOmniaVanitas
Rated 20 May 2023
5
90th
The high points are some of the funniest Monty Python sketches for me, but it's uneven at times.
Rated 20 May 2023
madmanMadMan
Rated 15 May 2023
90
67th
Still pretty funny, is more an anthology/inspired by previous material movie, so it's pretty loose. I enjoyed most of the sketches, the songs are the best.
Rated 15 May 2023
bzymusbzymus
Rated 19 Apr 2023
96
98th
audiovisual 96 acting 100 overall feeling 92 avg 96
Rated 19 Apr 2023
kingarturoKingArturo
Rated 22 Jan 2021
100
98th
A masterpiece, there's not a second you can predict while watching this movie.
Rated 22 Jan 2021
yagmur9022yagmur9022
Rated 23 Dec 2020
77
26th
hayatın içine insan girince anlamı manlamı yokmuş işte. ama filmi beğendim, tiyatral bi film sadece bağlantılar çok kopuktu o yüzden biraz daha izleyerek puanı artar. ama anlamadığım için de daha fazla vermem
Rated 23 Dec 2020
spoonerspotspoonerspot
Rated 15 Dec 2020
90
97th
Monty Python. Definitely one of their best.
Rated 15 Dec 2020
facsimileFacsimile
Rated 23 Sep 2020
100
94th
What can I say? Not only is the meaning of life hilarious, but it also manages to portray the absurdity of human life perfectly. Funny and thought provoking at the same time, the meaning of life is a film that against all odds, and perhaps even without intending to so, succeeds in staying true to it's title.
Rated 23 Sep 2020
matthagenmatthagen
Rated 20 Mar 2020
74
88th
Seen: 2.
Rated 20 Mar 2020
dawdlingpoetDawdlingPoet
Rated 27 Nov 2019
60
28th
This is more a long sketch show than a film with a traditional narrative as such, although it is split into different 'parts', a bit like a play maybe? if you know of Monty Pythons TV shows then you'll have a good idea of what to expect. I personally prefer 'The Life of Brian' to this. This film was a bit too wacky/'out of the box' for my personal taste. If your a fan of Monty Python then you'll likely enjoy this but it won't suit all, I'd say. I wouldn't expressly recommend it as such, no.
Rated 27 Nov 2019
montycircusMontyCircus
Rated 03 Aug 2019
80
90th
I'm a Monty Python superfan (as you can tell). The good? Many of the musical numbers are all-time classics (see: "Every Sperm is Sacred"). The bad: some of the non-musical skits are a bit too long (accountants) and if they had been on the TV show they would have been cut in half and much zippier. Not the place to start for someone new to Python, instead either "Holy Grail" or "Flying Circus" or the movie of the best early sketches from the TV Show "And Now For Something Completely Different"
Rated 03 Aug 2019
batmantisBatmantis
Rated 06 Jul 2019
65
37th
11/30/19 - Watched back in the summer. Probably the weakest Monty Python film I've seen (have not seen the Hollywood Bowl live film they did.) There are a lot of good ideas in here, but most sketches either take a while to get going and/or go on longer than they should.
Rated 06 Jul 2019
orcunyondemorcunyondem
Rated 02 Apr 2019
96
94th
It's all connected so well that it tought me a good lesson. The short movie at the beginning looked irrevelant yet just wow. I only didn't like the songs, they're not bad, they're just unnecessary and annoying. You may expect it to be annoying because it's Monty Python but it's not that kinda annoying. Still, the movie is almost perfect.
Rated 02 Apr 2019
metalhankmetalhank
Rated 26 Feb 2019
78
92nd
This Monty Python flick is more like the series than any of the the other films, it is more of a collection of relatable skits. There is some gut busting funny shit in here to be enjoyed.
Rated 26 Feb 2019
karatoprakkaratoprak
Rated 22 Dec 2018
65
20th
not funny.
Rated 22 Dec 2018
spaceflohspacefloh
Rated 09 Dec 2018
60
58th
ger; [Monty Python's Der Sinn des Lebens; The Meaning of Life]; auf komödiantische weise werden alle phasen des lebens betrachtet um den sinn des lebens zu erkunden.;
Rated 09 Dec 2018
vv238vv238
Rated 25 Sep 2018
58
59th
This feels like the least necessary of Monty Python's films. Even Holy Grail had a plot to tie everything together but this is more or less a sequence of sketches with very little in common with each other, other than the abstract concept of life. Still, it has all of the silliness of Monty Python and some of the sketches are extremely funny. The problem is that some of sketches an absolute chore to get through.
Rated 25 Sep 2018
closefriendCloseFriend
Rated 25 Mar 2018
52
24th
This reminds me less of Monty Python's other material than it reminds me of the Kentucky Fried Movie: so discursive that it becomes extremely hit-or-miss, with the misses dominating. Idle's and Palin's musical numbers become oases of humor between long stretches of one-joke sketches that fall on their collective ass. It never bodes well when the tits become the highlight of a comedy film.
Rated 25 Mar 2018
luordluord
Rated 09 Aug 2017
56
35th
I laughed enough times, probably more than with any other MP movie.
Rated 09 Aug 2017
timecapsuleTimeCapsule
Rated 27 Feb 2017
86
90th
Monty Python's third feature film is the best example of the legendary group's sketch comedy brilliance put on the big screen. The loose story structure allows the group to do all kinds of different bits forming a kinda mosaic of commentaries on life.
Rated 27 Feb 2017
plusdrolePlus_Drole
Rated 26 Feb 2017
89
87th
Silly. It's not aging well, but an institution like Python doesn't need to.
Rated 26 Feb 2017
letskillrobotsletskillrobots
Rated 03 Aug 2016
15
41st
Did not explain anything
Rated 03 Aug 2016
feraudFeraud
Rated 23 Aug 2015
27
20th
The disappointment lowers the score.
Rated 23 Aug 2015
ryan_luedersRyan Lueders
Rated 12 Aug 2015
82
63rd
I'd rather be watching this movie, than be marching up and down the square. It's a really fun movie, and not all the skits are great but there are some really classic ones. I'm always impressed by the animation sequences of the Monty Python movies. I also liked the short film at the beginning. This comedy group is so creative to turn a finance building into a pirate ship. I also love the songs they put into their films...
Rated 12 Aug 2015
vengefulkbmVengefulKBM
Rated 12 Jul 2015
85
85th
This is my favorite Monty Python movie, and I don't care if I'm the only person in the world who feels that way. "Every Sperm is Sacred" is one of the best musical production numbers ever put to film, and so many of the jokes, even if they're not really connected, are just so off-the-wall and unique, even for Monty Python, that they're unforgettable ("I wonder where that fish has gone...").
Rated 12 Jul 2015
judicaretjudicaret
Rated 09 May 2015
86
81st
Out of the films I've seen that sport some really bad taste, this one comes off maybe with the most interesting and original ideas. Erratic collections of sketches about birth and death including some odd moments in between them. Recommended for devoted laughers.
Rated 09 May 2015
rymRYM
Rated 29 Mar 2015
72
78th
3.59/5
Rated 29 Mar 2015
lonewolf2003Lonewolf2003
Rated 03 Dec 2014
75
61st
It has two great songs and some lesser one, and one that's so gross I skipped it this time. It also misses the narrative trust of the better Python movies, Life of Brain and the Holy Grail (3rd viewing)
Rated 03 Dec 2014
htimanhtiman
Rated 26 Nov 2014
65
31st
This movie didn't give me many laughs, but its was bizarre in an interesting way. Its worth a watch just for how weird it is.
Rated 26 Nov 2014
backwardsuitbackwardsuit
Rated 13 Nov 2014
85
91st
Very episodic and all over the place but so consistently hilarious I don't really mind.
Rated 13 Nov 2014
goldblumingGoldbluming
Rated 27 Jul 2014
72
44th
About 40% good. Many of the skits, instead of being witty parodies or comedic observations, are silly nonsense that are not very much entertaining and at times cringe worthy.
Rated 27 Jul 2014
muttermutter
Rated 06 Mar 2014
50
28th
Mr Creosote is one of the best sketches I have ever seen, but many of the others, although clever, can be rather drawn out. Good soundtrack.
Rated 06 Mar 2014
glm01glm01
Rated 21 Oct 2013
82
71st
82.000
Rated 21 Oct 2013
bob_thrillinbob thrillin
Rated 22 Jun 2013
75
55th
Certainly hit or miss, but the hits are some of the best work the Pythons ever did.
Rated 22 Jun 2013
neonmanNeonman
Rated 30 May 2013
97
99th
Brilliantly sardonic, snide, sly, sarcastic, satirical, and sometimes sexy (and mostly chauvinistic), all in the brilliant Monty Python style, with the best of '80s effects, the best of British humour, and classic scene after classic scene travelling through life (as a film), trying to find meaning in an existence made meaningless. I don't normally highly regard comedies in the medium of film, but this is a huge exception.
Rated 30 May 2013
ninagoninago
Rated 17 Jan 2013
80
40th
there's no comparison between this one and other gillian's with the monty python. But we can still find some nice sketches in it, worth to be seen.
Rated 17 Jan 2013
mselwaymselway
Rated 21 Dec 2012
85
35th
Classic Python. A series of mini films making the whole.
Rated 21 Dec 2012
sirstuckeySirStuckey
Rated 22 Nov 2012
90
94th
My favorite Monty Python film. The first third is absolutely hilarious, and the rest is very funny. I was almost crying because I was laughing so hard during the sex-ed scene.
Rated 22 Nov 2012
big_mooseBig Moose
Rated 29 Sep 2012
98
99th
Un. Beat. Able. Classic absurd comedy.
Rated 29 Sep 2012
mrratMrRat
Rated 15 Jun 2012
75
23rd
My least favourite of the Python Movies as it is little more than a series of sketches with very little coherence behinf it.
Rated 15 Jun 2012
beebeedeedopbeebeedeedop
Rated 31 Mar 2012
100
91st
Never before has a movie taken life so seriously, at face value, and beyond.
Rated 31 Mar 2012
mattorama12mattorama12
Rated 17 Mar 2012
75
77th
More of a sketch compendium than a real narrative, so it's one of those movies that doesn't easily lend itself to a single rating. A couple of weak segments bring this down, but the highs are as great as any Python works.
Rated 17 Mar 2012
wayofthegunwayofthegun
Rated 08 Mar 2012
60
21st
I'm not a huge fan of the Monty Python comedy shtick. There are some funny parts, but a lot of ridiculous/inane parts. It's okay, but probably better if you're a fan of their stuff in general.
Rated 08 Mar 2012
goremeatgoremeat
Rated 29 Feb 2012
80
77th
It is a most elusive fish! And it went wherever I did go. Ooooh, fishy, fishy, fishy fish! A-fish, a-fish, a-fish, a-fishy, ooooh. Ooooh, fishy, fishy, fishy fish! That went wherever I did go.
Rated 29 Feb 2012
baggerBagger
Rated 15 Feb 2012
80
84th
This is probably my favorite Python movie. What it lacks in overall coherence or perhaps more fine-tuned chemistry between the members, it more than makes up for in no holds-barred visuals and overdrive writing.
Rated 15 Feb 2012
myfavchordsmyfavchords
Rated 15 Dec 2011
100
99th
This is my favorite of all of the Monty Python movies, which says a lot about how much I enjoy this film. The gang is not afraid to make fun of any subject and the laughs are non stop. I highly recommend this classic comedy.
Rated 15 Dec 2011
mennowomennowo
Rated 30 Aug 2011
78
64th
A true classic. Though I found it was a bit more a put together mix of things than for example the life of Bryan...
Rated 30 Aug 2011
thingsteadThingstead
Rated 26 Aug 2011
40
19th
The corporate raiders bit is one of my favorites from these guys, but the rest of it just isn't that funny.
Rated 26 Aug 2011
fragolafragola
Rated 16 Jul 2011
95
70th
Great, Great, Great.
Rated 16 Jul 2011
kingofjewkingofjew
Rated 30 Jun 2011
66
18th
Too random. You can see right away that these where the less funny sketches (compared to the life of brain and holy grail productions) and the humor is drawn out and less frequent. A bit too random at parts, tho its python,so thats not that surprising. Still, some hilarious bits. FISHY, FISHY , FISHY ....... FISH!
Rated 30 Jun 2011
greatscott85GreatScott85
Rated 28 Apr 2011
84
49th
Far from the best of Monty Python's efforts, but still has plenty of great laughs and has some standout sequences.
Rated 28 Apr 2011
vinegarbobVinegarBob
Rated 27 Mar 2011
75
68th
It's a bit too long (I could have done without the Crimson Permanent Assurance section) and a few of the sketches fall flat, but when it's good it's very good and the songs are top tier.
Rated 27 Mar 2011
stevekimesstevekimes
Rated 13 Feb 2011
80
47th
The most intense Monty Python, pulling out all the stops. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but when it works, it is stunningly hilarious. Definitely not for kids.
Rated 13 Feb 2011
lady_moeLady Moe
Rated 04 Feb 2011
67
25th
Very funny Python film. My favorite part is the Mr. Creosote Restaurant segment, which always leaves me in stitches.
Rated 04 Feb 2011
nathan_sNathan S
Rated 31 Jan 2011
3
45th
Juvenile on the surface, but it contains a decent deal of insightful commentary. Pretty hilarious.
Rated 31 Jan 2011
glmglm
Rated 02 Jan 2011
83
74th
83.000
Rated 02 Jan 2011
ehk2ehk2
Rated 23 Dec 2010
62
81st
Every sperm is sacred
Rated 23 Dec 2010
by_devolby Devol
Rated 04 Nov 2010
70
37th
this score would have been 10 points lower if it wasn't for Mr. Creosote.
Rated 04 Nov 2010
howellchuckhowellchuck
Rated 04 Oct 2010
93
69th
My best friend had to leave the theater during the "Mr. Creosote" sequence - now that's entertainment!
Rated 04 Oct 2010
hellboy76hellboy76
Rated 25 Sep 2010
70
79th
Doesn't quite match up to the other MP films but still plenty of laughs.
Rated 25 Sep 2010
dunbardunbar
Rated 13 Sep 2010
88
90th
Python doing a great job at being absurdly hilarious. Life doesn't feel the same after being introduced to the sacred nature of sperm.
Rated 13 Sep 2010
mechatiggerMechatigger
Rated 31 Aug 2010
57
26th
The latest import of brazen comedy from the Monty Python madcap satirists is surely the group's most outrageous and uneven film, ranging from a witty spoof guaranteed to offend the devout, to one so gross it will leave you cringing.
Rated 31 Aug 2010
burkayadaligburkayadalig
Rated 09 Aug 2010
88
84th
cult movie... british humor at its best..."every sperm is sacred" is one of the best movie songs ever...
Rated 09 Aug 2010
puyaPuya
Rated 07 Aug 2010
98
98th
"O lord,ooh you are so big so absolutely huge, gosh we are all really impressed down here...O Lord, please don't burn us,Don't grill or toast your flock, Don't put us on the barbecue,Or simmer us in stock, Don't braise or bake or boil us.." lol best prayer ever
Rated 07 Aug 2010
petrostserPetrosTser
Rated 28 Jul 2010
50
24th
The last Monty Python feature is quite underwhelming; it almost feels as if the legendary comedy group is in a state of disintegration, which isn't inherently bad (in fact, it might've been the only possible step after their previous landmark work, and it could even be seen as a statement), yet there's rarely anything funny or insightful in the film. The scene with Mr Creosote stands out as a memorable exception, but elsewhere it's low-hanging fruit tackled with randomness instead of surrealism.
Rated 28 Jul 2010
lupisterlupister
Rated 11 May 2010
29
26th
meh
Rated 11 May 2010
rewindrewind
Rated 28 Mar 2010
6
64th
And here I thought the meaning of life was, "To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women."
Rated 28 Mar 2010
tvfilm_hubTV+Film-Hub
Rated 02 Mar 2010
11
56th
Hysterical stuff intermixed with a few elements that should have been cut. On the whole greatness!
Rated 02 Mar 2010
joeliusJoelius
Rated 02 Mar 2010
40
59th
It fell short of what it should have been (typical of Monty Python), but what it should have been is way up there. Still a good film and a better laugh.
Rated 02 Mar 2010
woodoowoodoo
Rated 25 Jan 2010
80
44th
Rambling, uneven, funny as hell.
Rated 25 Jan 2010
overratedoverrated
Rated 19 Jan 2010
66
72nd
Gets a lot of hate but for me the most fun, in large part because it's the least quoted.
Rated 19 Jan 2010

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