* The city of Mocha, a global coffee mecca through the 1700s, though it’s fallen into some disrepair in recent centuries. File Name: salmon in … [3] The film premiered at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival. [15] Reshooting and water tank work was filmed at Black Hangar Studios in the UK. Beaufoy's screenplay is decidedly different from the novel in several respects. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (DVD) : A London fisheries expert is approached by a consultant to help realize a sheik's vision of bringing the sport of fly-fishing to the desert and embarks on an upstream journey of faith and fish to prove the impossible possible. Why was it called “the Yemen”? Viewers who take the sheikh's advice and suspend their disbelief, even for a moment, may well find themselves hooked. Through a series of letters and documents, Torday creates a political satire that focused more on the "art of political spin" than on the force of the human spirit. A river that is dry for much of the year, in a desert climate. Slate is published by The Slate Group, a Graham Holdings Company. On the contrary, on the surface it’s a love story. Guys, 'Salmon Fishing in the Yemen' Is Kind of Not Terrible "[9] Beaufoy noted, "That's the difference when reading the book. Harriet arranges for Alfred to meet the Sheikh (Amr Waked) at his estate in the Scottish Highlands. In his review in the Los Angeles Times, Kenneth Turan called the film a "pleasant fantasy" and a "charming film whose few attempts at seriousness are best forgotten or ignored. Scenes set in Yemen were filmed in Ouarzazate in the Moroccan Atlas Mountains. [14] The restaurant scene in London was filmed at the Oxo Tower. [12] Egyptian actor Amr Waked was cast in the role of the sheikh. Salmon Fishing in The Yemen is a story of an unlikely scheme to create a salmon river written by Paul Torday, pictured right. * Civil unrest [4] The film received generally positive reviews upon its release,[5][6] and earned $34,564,651 in revenue worldwide.[2]. Alfred tells Harriet he will indeed stay and help them rebuild. All contents © 2021 The Slate Group LLC. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Beaufoy acknowledged, "I just love adapting material that allows room for creativity and allows room for me to be very present in the process, I suppose. And almost all of it comes courtesy of Sheikh Muhammad: The sheikh is a devout Muslim—who frequently talks about the intersection of faith and … fishing. After a moonlight swim, he asks her if there was a "theoretical possibility" of the two of them ending up together. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, by Paul Torday A comic desert storm that's cast to type. While Robert and the Foreign Secretary fly-fish for the photographers, terrorists break into the dam upstream and open the flood gates. Now it has been made into a movie. Despite Fred’s protests, he soon finds himself working on a project that seems not only frivolous but absolutely unfeasible in the arid land of Yemen. After seeing this movie, I became convinced that Salmon Fishing in the Yemen was indeed possible, only to learn that, no, the movie was not based on a true story. Quirky and a little reserved, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is nonetheless a charming little romantic drama sold by some strong central performances. “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen” is not a documentary. Succeeds where many recent adaptations (read: One Day) completely fail, in that it, ending aside, it stays true … "They brought the lightness and the humour to the material," Hallström later observed. [20] According to Bradshaw, the weakest scenes of the film involve the ferocious government PR chief (Kristin Scott Thomas), with "much lip-pursing and eye-rolling, but nothing funny or believable in the script for her to say. All kidding aside, there really is plenty to see in Yemen: * The island of Socotra, where the New York Times sampled the frankincense trees and “tasted Christmas.” [11] Where the novel focuses on political satire, the film is more about a man who decides to change direction in his life. And surely there’s no salmon fishing in that desert nation? Cinemagoers to Salmon Fishing in the Yemen in the United Kingdom have also been treated with a 30 second advertisement, depicting the nation as a prime getaway for “scuba diving, paragliding,” and “colorful culture.” The ad also reportedly highlights recent “increased serenity” in the region. All rights reserved. It’s true now, and it will have been true in 2007, when Salmon Fishing in the Yemen was first released. The actress ensured she looked the picture of perfection again when she took to the premiere of her new film Salmon Fishing in the Yemen in London tonight. "[18] They embrace, and then hold hands while looking out over the river. Writer Paul Torday talks about developing the story behind the movie Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2011). The screenplay for Salmon Fishing in the Yemen was written by Simon Beaufoy, based on the novel by Paul Torday. After his wife accepts a position in Geneva, Alfred devotes himself to the salmon project. Patricia informs the Sheikh that because of opposition to removing salmon from British rivers they will need to use farmed salmon. [9] In the novel, Jones is noticeably older than the film character, and the romantic subplot with Harriet is kept in the background because of the political satire. Despite Fred’s protests, he soon finds himself working on a project that seems not only frivolous but absolutely unfeasible in the arid land of Yemen. The Sheikh's house in Scotland was filmed at Ardverikie House. Before you all flood to Google to look up this crazy concept I speak of, I should break here to tell you that the concrete example of “salmon fishing in the Yemen” is fictitious. [9] Beaufoy enjoyed the challenge of transforming a fairly complex novel written in an unusual format—a series of emails, text messages, interviews, and testimony extracts—into a film. "[19] Collins concluded that Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is a "disarmingly nice hour and three-quarters of gentle romance and even gentler comedy. ‘Salmon Fishing in the Yemen’ stars Ewan McGregor as Fred Jones, a fisheries expert who is approached by Harriet [Emily Blunt] with a plan to introduce salmon into the waterways of Yemen. * The capital of Sana’a, whose patterned-brick towers really are quite beautiful (when not riddled with bullets). But if resources are limitless and the visionary is inspired, maybe salmon fishing in the Yemen isn’t impossible. A fisheries expert is approached by a consultant to help realize a sheik's vision of bringing the sport of fly-fishing to the desert and embarks on an upstream journey of faith and fish to prove the impossible possible. Plot. [7] While the Sheikh acknowledges that the project may sound crazy, he still believes that fishing is a noble pursuit that promotes harmony and requires immense faith. The PR stunt leaves Alfred heartbroken. This story centres around a fisheries scientist who has been tasked with getting Atlantic Salmon to the Yemen to enable sport fishing to take place. The film, based on a true story, concerns the budding romance between a fussy fisheries professor ( Ewan McGregor) and a freewheeling British consultant ( Emily Blunt) as they embark on a … Willing to spare no expense, he instructs his representative to turn his dream into reality, an extraordinary feat that will require the involvement of Britain's leading fisheries expert who happens to think the project both absurd and unachievable. "[12] For Hallström, it was that combination of humour and seriousness that allowed the actress to capture the balance between the film's sentiment and political satire. [2], The film opened in 18 cinemas so in the United States on 9 March 2012, taking in $225,000 for the three-day weekend. She approaches Alfred to say goodbye, where he tearfully wishes her luck as he ponders what to do next. For an unassuming romantic dramedy, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen includes a lot of spiritual content. The following day the fish are released from their holding tanks. The score features Leo Abrahams (guitar), Dirk Campbell (woodwind), Giles Lewin (oud), and the BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by Benjamin Wallfisch. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is less a classic fish-out-of-water tale than a fish-in-strange-waters tale, a study in diametric opposites that finds unexpected synchronies and moments of almost mystical harmony. The epistolary novel won the 2007 Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize, and the 2008 Waverton Good Read Award. Nevertheless, there are a few things to like in the movie—I liked the comparison between fishing and faith/religion—but it is far too uneven to be considered a must-see. The first is plot. [12] He also felt fortunate to get Kristin Scott Thomas to play the role of the bossy press secretary, Patricia Maxwell, recalling, "I knew she could be funny, as most actors can, but she brought that seriousness combined with a bit of heart. Music by Dario Marianelli.A visionary sheik has a big dream—to bring salmon fishing to the desert. But in the end it turns sour, as the filmmakers' secular humanism kicks in. That night, Harriet realises her feelings for Robert have changed, and when Alfred gets a text message from his wife asking him to return, he declines. In 2012, the film was nominated for the European Film Awards People's Choice Award. Change ). The film was also nominated for three Golden Globe Awards including Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical, Best Actor - Comedy or Musical for McGregor, and Best Actress - Comedy or Musical for Blunt. The most obvious difference is that his press secretary is a woman, played by Kristin Scott Thomas, whereas in the novel, the character is a man, Peter Maxwell. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is a 2011 British romantic comedy-drama film directed by Lasse Hallström and starring Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt, Kristin Scott Thomas and Amr Waked. ‘Salmon Fishing in the Yemen’ stars Ewan McGregor as Fred Jones, a fisheries expert who is approached by Harriet [Emily Blunt] with a plan to introduce salmon into the waterways of Yemen. The critic consensus states: "Quirky and a little reserved, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is nonetheless a charming little romantic drama sold by some strong central performances. Waked has enjoyed major success and fame in his own country and throughout the Arabic-speaking world. Some adventurous travelers may be able to enjoy Yemen safely, but it’s probably not advisable for the average weekend fisherman or moviegoer. Here's the run down on the movie story line: “From the beloved director of Chocolat and the Oscar®-winning screenwriter of SlumdogMillionaire comes the inspirational comedy Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. Although painfully shy,[Note 1] he enjoys working with Harriet and they begin to make progress. Although most people survive the resulting flash flood, the valley is left in ruins. By making Jones younger, Beaufoy added a "quirky flair" to the character that gives the audience a "completely different experience in watching a man overcome himself to achieve happiness. Just then, they see a salmon jumping from the water, indicating that some fish survived. In his review in the Los Angeles Times, Kenneth Turan called the film a "pleasant fantasy" and a "charming film whose few attempts at seriousness are best forgotten or ignored." Alfred meets with Harriet to discuss the project, but despite Harriet correcting his misconceptions of the Yemen environment, Alfred is convinced that the project is foolhardy. It's a political venture and focuses on an Anglo-Yemeni alliance between and relations. The Scottish folksong "Mairi's Wedding" by The Clancy Brothers, which is played over one scene, and "Where You Go" by The Young Romans, the song played over the end credits, are not included on the album. Peter Bradshaw from The Guardian, who gave the film two out of five stars, wrote that it "feels as if you've seen it many times before". The Sheikh blames himself for the tragedy, and vows to rebuild—this time with the support of the local community. In the United Kingdom, where The Telegraph is based, the government has issued a red warning telling Britons to “avoid all travel to the whole country.” Our own U.S. State Department, meanwhile, “urges U.S. citizens not to travel to Yemen,” adding that “U.S. The Sheikh does not believe that salmon bred in captivity will survive and rejects Patricia's offer, ending the British Government's involvement in the project. "[19], The film received some negative reviews. "[5] The film holds a score of 58 on Metacritic, based on 35 reviews. ... Non-fishing readers will find it enjoyable, faintly moth-eaten and oddly thought-provoking. Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. Based on the 2007 novel of the same name by Paul Torday, and a screenplay by Simon Beaufoy, the film is about a fisheries expert who is recruited by a consultant to help realize a sheikh's vision of bringing the sport of fly fishing to the Yemen desert, initiating an upstream journey of faith to make the impossible possible. Alfred's boss, pressured by Patricia, forces Alfred to accept a position on the project. Benjamin Carey, a Yemen Tourism spokesman, told The Telegraph on Wednesday: As The Telegraph points out, the Yemen Tourism Promotion Board may be overselling the wisdom of visiting Yemen for recreational angling. Read critic reviews You might also like Turan praised the performances of Emily Blunt and Ewan McGregor, concluding The fish swim upstream and everyone celebrates the success of the project. Their enthusiasm is interrupted, however, when Harriet learns that her new boyfriend, British special forces Captain Robert Meyers (Tom Mison), is missing in action. Soon after, they return to the Yemen, where Harriet and Alfred continue to grow closer. The story is based around a Yemeni sheik who loves salmon fishing, and enlists the (initially rather unwilling) help of a British fisheries expert to bring salmon to a river in the Yemen. Highly recommended! 6 VIDEOS | 54 IMAGES. [16], The film received generally favourable reviews from critics. Meanwhile, the British Prime Minister's press secretary, Patricia Maxwell (Kristin Scott Thomas), suggests the salmon fishing story to the Prime Minister's office as a positive story to help improve relations between Britain and the Islamic world. Then again, maybe nothing is. Features. Cinemagoers to Salmon Fishing in the Yemen in the United Kingdom have also been treated with a 30 second advertisement, depicting the nation … For the novel, see, Alfred exhibits some symptoms associated with, "Shooting commences on Salmon Fishing in the Yemen", "Film Interview: Salmon Fishing in the Yemen", "Lasse Hallstrom Talks 'Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen actor Amr Waked on going against the current", "Interview: Ewan Mcgregor, Emily Blunt, Amr Waked, and Paul Webster", "Salmon fishing in Scotland: hooked on the Spey", "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen Original Motion Picture Soundtrack", "Movie review: 'Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, Association for Science in Autism Treatment, Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative, Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, Maia Chung Autism and Disabilities Foundation (Jamaica), The Accidental Teacher: Life Lessons from My Silent Son, Aspergirls: Empowering Females with Asperger's Syndrome, Freaks, Geeks, and Asperger Syndrome: A User Guide to Adolescence, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Everybody Is Different: A Book for Young People Who Have Brothers or Sisters With Autism, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Salmon_Fishing_in_the_Yemen&oldid=1002631464, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Filipino-Canadian Autism Parent Support Group (Canada), This page was last edited on 25 January 2021, at 10:19. This article is about the film. Harriet asks if he will need a partner—and Alfred realises she is talking about herself. Correspondingly, is Salmon Fishing in the Yemen a true story? Salmon Fishing in Yemen Review: True To Book But With New Delights. * Somali pirates (known to refuel in Socotra) In a river in the deserts of western Yemen, that's where. It could have been a very short story, but in fact it made for a rather engaging novel. Alfred dismisses the project as "fundamentally unfeasible" because the Yemen cannot provide the necessary environment for salmon. As the two are fishing, a Yemeni radical attempts to assassinate the Sheikh, who is saved by Alfred casting his fishing line towards the assassin. Devastated, Harriet withdraws to her apartment. The cast is good, it's got an interesting plot and some decent laughs. The next day, as Harriet prepares to leave with Robert, the latter says while she was the one thing on his mind that kept him alive during his mission, she doesn't owe him anything. Alfred considers resigning rather than ruin his reputation in the scientific community, but is convinced by his wife that they need his income and pension.