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Streaming: Pools (2025) by Sam Hayes: Permission to Sink – The Wild, Emotional Dive of a Young Rebel

Summary of Movie: Pools (2025): A Chaotic Quest for Permission

Pools is a vibrant, chaotic, and emotionally layered independent dramedy that uses a college student's night of pool-hopping through wealthy estates as a highly stylized, externalized manifestation of her internal struggle to process grief and find self-acceptance. The film is distinguished by its unique, silly-but-sincere tone and a powerhouse lead performance by Odessa A'zion.

  • Summary of Content (Plot & Genre): The 99-minute Drama/Comedy centers on Kennedy (Odessa A'zion), a high-achieving student whose academic life is collapsing due to intense, unaddressed grief following her father's death. Faced with a final expulsion deadline, she initiates a spontaneous, high-stakes night of pool-hopping through the Lake Forest, Illinois estates. The quest is a desperate, passive rebellion against the conventional path and a search for a symbolic connection to her past, leading to emotional breakthroughs and surprising encounters.

  • What Movie Trend is About: The film follows the trend of Aestheticized Indie Comedies/Dramas that utilize a specific, high-concept, single-day-or-night event (the pool-hopping) as a visually rich vehicle for profound emotional and existential discovery, earning strong comparisons to the John Hughes cinematic style (blending suburban satire with earnest emotion).

  • What Big Social Trend is About: Pools aligns with the major social trend of increased Mental Health Awareness and the De-stigmatization of Grief in young adulthood. It contributes to the cultural conversation by honestly portraying the messy, non-linear reality of paralysis through loss, suggesting that the pursuit of personal passion can be more fulfilling than society's pressures (college, high-paying jobs).

  • Info About Director: Sam Hayes is the Director and Writer of Pools, which marks his feature directorial debut. He drew on personal experience with grief and was heavily inspired by the youth films of John Hughes, creating a vision that blends "unashamedly silly" visual quirks with raw emotional realism.

  • Major Awards and Nominations: The film was an Official Selection at the TIFF Next Wave 2025 festival, earning critical praise that positions it for potential nominations in independent film categories, particularly for Best First Feature and Best Female Lead Performance (Odessa A'zion).

  • Release Date: The film had a limited theatrical release starting on August 22, 2025, with a wider national expansion on September 5, 2025, and became available on all VOD platforms in November 2025.

Why It Is Trending: The A'zion-Hayes Breakout Effect

The film trended fiercely due to its status as a highly anticipated sequel to a critically acclaimed predecessor, its massive visual scale designed for IMAX, and the intense cultural pull of its star-studded, fashion-forward cast (Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Austin Butler).

  • Information about Synopsis: The high-concept premise—a grieving college student seeking permission for her life through a wild night of trespassing—is highly distinctive and easily pitchable. This unique blend of reckless rebellion and profound emotional searching makes it stand out from typical coming-of-age stories.

  • Information about Awards: The Official Selection at TIFF Next Wave provided early, significant indie credibility, which translated into positive word-of-mouth and high ratings from specialized film critics upon release.

  • Information about Director: Director Sam Hayes's bold, confident feature debut, which consciously leans into a John Hughes homage while introducing an idiosyncratic modern voice (including stylistic quirks like crash zooms), generates buzz among film fans who actively track emerging talent.

Consumer Insights: Audiences are actively seeking independent films that critics champion as "discoveries" or "gems," valuing authenticity and a strong directorial voice over high production budgets. Insights for Filmmakers: Explicitly referencing beloved classics (e.g., John Hughes) in marketing provides instant tonal shorthand, which is crucial for cutting through the noise in the VOD market. Insights for Brands: Partnering with film festivals or independent distributors (Utopia) on the release campaign can position a brand as a supporter of innovative, authentic young talent.

Why To Watch This Movie: Performance, Vibe, and Visual Poetry

Viewers should watch this movie because it delivers a rare combination of the grand, high-budget spectacle of a Hollywood blockbuster while maintaining the meticulous artistic vision, thematic depth, and technical artistry of an auteur-driven film.

  • The Powerhouse Lead Performance:

    • Detailed Text: Odessa A'zion delivers an "explosive" and "magnetic" performance as Kennedy, embodying the character's unique blend of frenetic energy, sharp wit, and deep vulnerability. Critics widely agree she anchors the entire film, making her descent into chaos and ultimate emotional breakthrough captivating and believable.

  • The Unique, Aestheticized Tone:

    • Detailed Text: Director Sam Hayes masterfully blends seemingly disparate tones—"unashamedly silly" comedy (with crash zooms and quirky dialogue) and "unwaveringly vulnerable" drama—which, though polarizing, creates a messy, authentic feel that resonates with the emotional turbulence of young adulthood.

  • The Stunning Cinematography:

    • Detailed Text: Cinematographer Ben Hardwicke ensures the film is visually rich. The scenes involving the pools, particularly the underwater sequences, are often described as having a "glassy luminosity" and function as a visual metaphor for Kennedy's internal, subconscious search for her father and her "permission to live."

Consumer Insights: Consumers are willing to embrace a complex or challenging tone if the lead performance is compelling enough to carry them through the narrative's emotional peaks and valleys. Insights for Filmmakers: Visual elements like unique cinematography (the pool scenes) can serve as effective marketing hooks, turning a dramatic film into a visually memorable event. Insights for Brands: High-end brands (e.g., photography equipment, apparel) could successfully sponsor behind-the-scenes content that focuses on the film’s distinctive visual style and aesthetic.

What Trend Is Followed?: The Anarchic Coming-of-Age Quest

The film follows the trend of the Anarchic Coming-of-Age Quest, where a protagonist rebels against a stifling environment (societal pressure, institutional expectations, grief) through a single, reckless, and highly symbolic physical journey (the pool-hopping escape).

  • Detailed Text: This trend uses the journey as a catalyst for a forced reckoning with reality. In Pools, the physical trespass through wealthy backyards symbolizes Kennedy's psychological trespass through her own emotional barriers, transforming a "party movie" into a "grieving quest."

Consumer Insights: This quest structure is satisfying because it promises both high-energy escapism and profound personal transformation, hitting two major consumer desires in entertainment. Insights for Filmmakers: The quest structure provides an essential narrative spine for a character-driven film, ensuring momentum even when the character is dealing with internal paralysis (grief). Insights for Brands: Brands promoting travel, adventure, or self-discovery services can leverage the film's quest motif to suggest their product is a catalyst for personal "escape" and "reckoning."

Movie Plot: The Search for a Father's Blessing

The plot is structured as a frantic, single-night rebellion against impending expulsion that accidentally becomes the emotional and literal journey Kennedy needs to find closure following her father's death.

  • The Crisis and Catalyst: Kennedy is on the verge of losing her scholarship and expulsion due to her non-attendance, fueled by unresolved grief. Her decision to organize a spontaneous, illegal pool-hopping night serves as her final, defiant avoidance mechanism.

  • The Ensemble and the Setting: She collects a group of mismatched students (the jock Reed, former friend Delaney, nerd Blake, and quirky Shane) and leads them into the affluent Lake Forest estates, which provides a lavish backdrop for their chaos and introduces the subtle class commentary.

  • The Implied Movie Trend Element (The Symbolic Act): The act of swimming to the bottom of the pool and staying there is revealed to be her way of "reconnecting with her dead father" (who died of a stroke in a pool), thereby transforming the mischief into a highly symbolic, almost ritualistic, search for "permission to live her own life."

  • The Parallel Story (The Michael Subplot): The plot includes a parallel storyline involving Michael (Michael Vlamis), the disgruntled A/C repairman. The climax occurs when Kennedy and Michael's separate journeys converge in a vacant mansion, resulting in a crucial, non-romantic, cathartic confession that helps Kennedy realize she must pursue her artistic passions.

Consumer Insights: The unexpected convergence of two seemingly separate plots (Kennedy's grief vs. Michael's professional frustration) is a satisfying narrative device that rewards the attentive consumer. Insights for Filmmakers: Using a high-stakes setting (a broken-into mansion) and a surprising character crossover (Kennedy and Michael) can effectively raise the emotional stakes for the film's climax. Insights for Brands: The focus on the sweltering heat and the broken A/C provides a unique, thematic element for brands in the home services or cooling/beverage sectors to explore.

Director's Vision: Sam Hayes' Vision: The Poetic Truth of Being Lost

Director Sam Hayes aimed to create a film that captures the emotional paradox of youth—the simultaneous feeling of invincibility and vulnerability—by treating the landscape (Lake Forest) and the water as reflections of Kennedy's inner, chaotic, yet ultimately honest, mental state.

  • Character-Driven Genesis:

    • Detailed Text: The film was conceived not around a plot point, but around a core character dynamic: a "free write" of the scene between Kennedy in a window and Michael, the air-conditioning man, on the lawn, proving the focus was always on character connection and emotional truth.

  • The Unapologetically Quirky Tone:

    • Detailed Text: Hayes intentionally was "never afraid to be silly," using crash zooms and "absurd" elements like the narrating cardboard cutout to reflect the cognitive dissonance of youth, where moments of intense silliness occur right alongside deep emotional pain.

  • The Water Metaphor:

    • Detailed Text: The director utilized the pool and water imagery as the film's key thematic element, symbolizing cleansing, reflection, and the subconscious. The film uses water to show Kennedy's desperate, haunting effort to feel her father's presence again.

Consumer Insights: The explicit connection between the director's personal life (losing a parent) and the film's core theme increases the perceived authenticity, a highly valued trait among contemporary film viewers. Insights for Filmmakers: Embrace the quirky, "LOL So Random" humor if it is ultimately used to serve and heighten the subsequent emotional groundedness of the story, making the dramatic moments hit harder. Insights for Brands: Sponsoring director interviews or 'making-of' content that highlights the personal genesis of the story can align a brand with emotional honesty and artistic vulnerability.

Themes: Identity, Privilege, and Finding Permission

Pools addresses the complex emotional realities of early adulthood, focusing on the weight of parental expectations and the subtle social tension inherent in suburban wealth.

  • Grief and The Search for Permission:

    • Detailed Text: The central theme is Kennedy's emotional paralysis. Her rebellion is less about partying and more about finding the "permission" to be happy and to pursue her genuine desires (music, not economics) now that the person she was trying to impress (her father) is gone.

  • Critique of The Conventional Path:

    • Detailed Text: The film argues against the "conventional path of higher education" and the relentless pressure to "make it big," suggesting that fulfillment comes from embracing one's artistic passions over a safe, unfulfilling routine (a message reinforced by the final exchange between Michael and Kennedy).

  • Class Divide and Suburban Hypocrisy:

    • Detailed Text: The Lake Forest setting—wealthy, extravagant estates—provides a canvas for the rebellious trespassing. The film offers a light "down-with-the-rich messaging," using the homeowners as buffoonish archetypes who worry about air conditioning costs despite their massive wealth, highlighting economic hypocrisy.

Consumer Insights: Films that critique institutional or financial pressure while validating personal, creative pursuits (music, art) resonate strongly with the financially and vocationally anxious younger consumer base. Insights for Filmmakers: Layering in social commentary (the class divide) through the setting (lavish estates) rather than heavy dialogue makes the thematic content feel organic and less didactic. Insights for Brands: Brands involved in the arts, education alternatives, or mental wellness can build campaigns around the theme of "finding your own path" or "permission to pursue passion."

Key Success Factors: Breakout Talent and Indie Authenticity

Pools succeeded commercially and critically by leveraging a magnetic lead performance, achieving high cinematic quality on an independent budget, and positioning itself as a nostalgic-but-new entry in the beloved coming-of-age genre.

  • Breakout Performance and Ensemble Chemistry:

    • Detailed Text: Odessa A'zion's committed, "magnetic" performance served as the essential anchor. Coupled with the believable, authentic chemistry between the ensemble cast (Mason Gooding, Ariel Winter, Michael Vlamis), the film felt immediately warm and engaging to viewers.

  • High Cinematic Quality on an Indie Budget:

    • Detailed Text: The polished, stunning visuals—especially the "glassy luminosity" of the pool scenes shot by DP Ben Hardwicke—belied the film's modest independent budget, securing strong festival interest and raising its commercial appeal.

  • The John Hughes Hook:

    • Detailed Text: The clear homage to the John Hughes era provided instant cultural context and appeal, drawing in older audiences looking for nostalgia and younger viewers seeking a fresh, character-focused counterpoint to conventional blockbusters.

Consumer Insights: Consumers trust an independent film more when they perceive the cast had "fun" making it, as evidenced by positive reviews citing the ensemble's natural chemistry. Insights for Filmmakers: The film demonstrates that investing heavily in cinematography and lead talent is the most effective way for a low-budget film to compete visually and critically. Insights for Brands: Supporting a film that champions "Authenticity" and a compelling performance is a low-risk way to associate a brand with quality, emerging talent and artistic vision.

Awards and Nominations: Emerging Indie Recognition

While not a major studio release, Pools gained significant recognition in the independent film community, largely due to its strong character work and the arrival of a distinctive new voice in director Sam Hayes.

The film was selected as an Official Selection at the TIFF Next Wave 2025 festival. This is a crucial early industry badge of honor for emerging voices and youth-focused cinema. Critics universally highlighted the "careening, explosive performance" of Odessa A'zion, signaling strong awards potential on the independent circuit for Best Female Lead. Furthermore, writer/director Sam Hayes has been positioned by critics as a notable new talent, making him a likely contender for Best First Feature or similar awards from independent bodies.

Consumer Insights: Consumers rely on festival selections and performance praise to identify high-quality independent cinema that is not widely advertised, guiding their VOD purchasing decisions. Insights for Filmmakers: Focus all awards campaign resources on the single most universally praised element—the lead performance—to maximize nomination chances and commercial viability. Insights for Brands: Brands can strategically sponsor "Breakthrough Talent" or "Best First Feature" awards at independent film festivals to align with the film's success narrative.

Critics Reception: Tonal Polarization and High Praise

Critics widely admired the film's emotional heart and visual style, but its idiosyncratic, intentionally jarring tonal shifts between "silly" comedy and raw drama were the main source of debate, leading to a respectable, if not unanimous, positive critical score.

  • Roger https://www.google.com/search?q=Ebert.com:

    • Description: Robert Daniels praised the film, calling it "Vibrant, silly, and unwaveringly vulnerable," and an invigorating party movie that uplifts the protagonist's spirit. He noted the stunning visuals of the pool scenes and the strength of A'zion's performance.

  • Online Publications (Flickering Myth, Film Threat):

    • Description: Critics frequently highlighted the film's success in blending personal growth with an upbeat affection for the setting, noting that the "sincerity behind the overall storytelling" overrides the film's occasional stretches of credulity.

  • Source of Tonal Critique (Kicking the Seat):

    • Description: Reviews critiqued the "quirky vibe" as sometimes "more irritating than endearing," finding the humor "LOL So Random" and the blend of tones uneven, though the reviewer praised the growth of the characters in the second half.

Consumer Insights: A strong core of positive, enthusiastic critical reviews from respected online niche publications is often more effective for an indie film than a high Metascore average from mainstream critics. Insights for Filmmakers: The controversy over the tone (silly vs. sincere) generated discussion, proving that having a distinctive, polarizing voice is often better for independent film success than aiming for safe consensus. Insights for Brands: Use critics' quotes emphasizing the film's "vulnerability" and "vibrant" energy, which highlight the emotional payoff, rather than focusing on the quirky elements.

Reviews: Emotional Resonance Drives High User Scores

User reviews are highly polarized but show a deep, emotional connection from those who responded to the film's unique tone and heart. The collective user rating suggests the film is a beloved "hidden gem" for a passionate niche audience.

  • IMDb User Reviews:

    • Description: While the IMDb rating is mixed, the positive featured reviews describe it as an "absolute indie gem" that "uplifted" them, drawing direct comparisons to the high emotional-comedic value of films like Sixteen Candles and Superbad. Users consistently highlight themes of loss, grief, and "summer nostalgia."

  • The Hollywood Handle:

    • Description: Reviews consistently praised the film for being "honest, subtle, and surprisingly profound," noting its success in avoiding clichés and providing a heartbreakingly real portrayal of grief that "doesn't scream—it just sits with you."

Consumer Insights: For independent films, a passionate high-scoring contingent often indicates a unique film that is a "must-see" for a specific sub-genre (coming-of-age indie). Insights for Filmmakers: Marketing should highlight quotes from users who praised the emotional depth ("laughed, I cried"), as this is the film's core selling point over conventional plot. Insights for Brands: Utilize user review snippets in VOD promotional materials to connect with viewers looking for media that offers genuine emotional release and self-discovery.

What Movie Trend film is following: The Neo-John Hughes Indie

The Neo-John Hughes Indie: New Angst, Classic Suburb

  • Aestheticized Indie Dramedy: The film favors a highly distinct visual and tonal style, elevating the genre beyond simple comedy by focusing on a deeply troubled protagonist's interior life, a hallmark of modern indie darlings.

  • The College-Aged Coming-of-Age: It fills a rare niche by focusing on the early college experience (post-high school but pre-graduation), a time the director noted is often overlooked but is a crucial phase of identity formation, freedom, and emotional reckoning.

Consumer Insights: Consumers who liked other stylish, emotional indie films (Lady Bird, Booksmart) will be automatically drawn to this film's similar blend of suburban setting, witty dialogue, and genuine angst. Insights for Filmmakers: The casting of recognizable young talent (A'zion, Gooding, Winter) in an indie setting is essential for gaining traction within this trend, leveraging their pre-existing fanbases. Insights for Brands: Positioning a brand as supportive of the "messy truth" of the college experience (beyond simple party clichés) can lead to highly authentic, viral marketing.

What Big Social Trend is following: The Critique of Entitlement

The Critique of Entitlement and the Grief Reckoning

  • The Grief Reckoning: It reflects the generational social trend of increased honesty and openness about grief, acknowledging that the loss of a parent can cause significant, non-linear emotional and academic/professional paralysis.

  • Suburban Class Critique: The film engages with the social commentary trend of critiquing suburban wealth and entitlement by having the rebellious action (trespassing) occur only in the lavish backyards of the privileged, offering a brief "down-with-the-rich messaging" for the working-class audience.

Consumer Insights: Audiences increasingly seek media that validates their internal emotional struggles (like grief) rather than offering a simplistic, clean resolution, a feature this film strongly embraces. Insights for Filmmakers: Using a specific, high-end location (Lake Forest estates) as a direct physical foil to the protagonist's emotional state is a subtle yet powerful way to integrate social commentary. Insights for Brands: Non-profit and mental wellness organizations can find a strong, thematic alignment by partnering with the film to discuss its honest portrayal of loss and anxiety.

What Consumer Trend is following: Curated Indie Discovery

Curated Indie Discovery and the Short-Form Drama

  • The VOD "Hidden Gem" Search: With a low box office gross, the film appeals directly to the consumer trend of Curated Indie Discovery, where consumers pride themselves on finding unique, critically validated films outside the mainstream Top lists on streaming platforms.

  • The Bingeable Runtime: The runtime of one hour and thirty-nine minutes makes it an ideal choice for the time-conscious consumer looking for a complete, high-impact emotional narrative that can be consumed easily in a single sitting.

Consumer Insights: The jump from limited theatrical release to VOD fulfills the consumer desire for quick access to festival-buzz films without having to wait a year for a major streaming service window. Insights for Filmmakers: The low budget/high critical praise model is proven to be the most efficient path for independent VOD success, maximizing profit per viewer. Insights for Brands: Targeted advertising placed on niche film blogs and specialized VOD platform sections is the most effective way to reach this curated discovery audience.

Final Verdict: A Unique, Visually Rich Breakout

Pools is a recommended, high-impact independent film that successfully updates the classic coming-of-age formula with a bold aesthetic, a powerhouse lead performance, and a genuinely honest look at the messy reality of young adult grief.

  • Watch for the Emotional Core: The film's greatest strength is its unflinching honesty about grief and the catharsis it finds in unexpected rebellion.

  • Watch for the Star: Odessa A'zion's performance is a must-see, guaranteeing her status as a star to watch in independent cinema.

  • The Final Word: Tolerating the occasional tonal quirk is worth the reward of the film's beautiful visuals and its deeply resonant, moving emotional conclusion.

Consumer Insights: The film's success demonstrates that authenticity and emotional vulnerability are now more powerful drivers of consumer choice than polished production value in the independent sphere. Insights for Filmmakers: The final message—that choosing the artistic, authentic path (music) over the safe, expected path (economics) is right—is a powerful and validated statement that resonates with today's audience. Insights for Brands: The film offers a highly marketable story arc: the journey from chaotic self-destruction to quiet, authentic self-acceptance.

Similar Movies: Companions in Rebellion and Grief

Pools exists in the cinematic lineage of films that use a rebellious single-night quest and a unique suburban setting to explore deep psychological pain and social critique.

  • The Swimmer (Nineteen Sixty-Eight): A deep thematic cousin that also uses the metaphorical act of swimming across suburban pools as a physical journey reflecting a character's profound, unresolved psychological breakdown.

  • Ferris Bueller's Day Off (Nineteen Eighty-Six): A key structural and tonal inspiration that shares the narrative conceit of a charismatic protagonist leading a rebellious, spontaneous one-day escape through an affluent Chicago suburb.

  • Booksmart (Two Thousand Nineteen): Similar in its high-energy, single-night quest and focus on an unlikely ensemble of academic overachievers who abandon their studies to pursue a social/emotional goal, leading to necessary self-discovery.

Consumer Insights: Consumers who love "A-to-B" travel/quest narratives (road trips, party nights) where the goal is ultimately self-discovery will find this structure satisfying. Insights for Filmmakers: Referencing both classic and contemporary films demonstrates the film's wide-ranging cultural literacy and appeal to multiple generations of viewers. Insights for Brands: Use comparisons to The Swimmer to market the film to a discerning, film-literate audience, and comparisons to Booksmart and Ferris Bueller to appeal to a broader demographic.

Final Insight on Market Positioning: The VOD "Art-House" Gem

Pools is strategically positioned as an "Art-House" VOD Gem, demonstrating that independent films can achieve commercial success by maximizing their unique artistic merits—a strong, emotional performance and a distinct aesthetic—rather than relying on a wide theatrical release.

  • Insights for Filmmakers:

    • The Success Model: The film confirms that the model of low box office / high critical praise / strategic VOD launch is the most profitable path for sophisticated, character-driven dramas. The focus on a highly specific location and a niche topic created a unique, identifiable cinematic brand.

    • Talent Validation: The film serves as a powerful validation platform for director Sam Hayes's unique voice and the breakout potential of Odessa A'zion, setting them up for future, larger-scale projects.

  • Consumer Insights:

    • The Emotional Dividend: The consumer reward is high: a film that is both a fun, chaotic party movie and a deeply cathartic experience about working through grief, offering a valuable emotional dividend often missing in mainstream releases. The easy VOD access ensures the film becomes a word-of-mouth "discovery" classic.

Consumer Insights: Consumers view a low box office and high VOD success rate as proof of a film's "indie cred" and authenticity, making them more likely to recommend it. Insights for Filmmakers: The film's success should encourage the industry to invest in projects that prioritize character interiority and unique visual metaphors over conventional plot points. Insights for Brands: Marketing should frame the film as the perfect choice for an "unplug and recharge" night, positioning the brand as supportive of mental breaks and personal emotional exploration.

Trends 2025: The VOD Shift: Authenticity and the Neo-Hughes Breakout

Trend Description: The market is demonstrating a powerful shift toward authentic, low-stakes rebellion films that use a nostalgic, aesthetically-driven quest (like the "Neo-John Hughes Indie") as a vehicle for honest, messy explorations of young adult grief and mental health.

  • The Emotional License: Films are gaining traction by portraying emotional turbulence (grief, anxiety) as the justification for chaotic, cinematic actions, validating the consumer need for cathartic escape and "permission to sink" before finding hope.

  • Aestheticized Nostalgia: The blend of classic John Hughes tropes (suburban angst, ensemble friend groups, one wild night) with a modern, glossy indie film look creates a unique, highly marketable "retro-fresh" aesthetic that appeals across generations.

  • Breakout Talent Economy: Low-grossing theatrical releases that pivot quickly to VOD are establishing a new economy where the primary ROI is proving the "stardom potential" of the lead actor (e.g., Odessa A'zion) for future major studio projects.

  • Water as Metaphor: There is a rise in visual metaphors (like the water/pool imagery in Pools) being used as core promotional hooks, symbolizing deep internal struggles (subconscious, cleansing, loss) rather than just being a plot device.

Implication for Entertainment Industry: To combat franchise fatigue, distributors must aggressively market films that are both emotionally high-stakes (dealing with universal issues like loss) and structurally simple (the single-night quest). The focus should be on acquiring films that generate passionate user reviews (like the Pools 10/10 scores) as this signals the authentic word-of-mouth that drives high-profit, low-investment VOD discovery.

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