Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

Director: Lasse Hallström
Cast: Emily Blunt, Ewan McGregor, Kristen Scott Thomas, Amr Waked
Genre: Comedy/Drama/Romance 2011
Running time: 107 mins.
Rating:★★★

A visionary Sheikh (Amr Waked) believes his passion for the peaceful pastime of salmon fishing can enrich the lives of his people, and he dreams of bringing the sport of the not so fish-friendly desert. Willing to spare no expense, he instructs his representative (Emily Blunt) to turn the dream into reality, an extraordinary feat that will require the involvement of Britain's leading fisheries expert (Ewan McGregor), who happens to the project both absurd and unachievable. That is, until the Prime Minister's overzealous press secretary (Kristen Scott Thomas) latches onto it as a good will story. Now, this unlikely team will put it all on the line and embark on an upstream journey of faith and fish to prove the impossible, possible.

Harriet (Emily Blunt) and Fred (Ewan McGregor) couldn't be more different. The cinematography and costume design help to illustrate. Harriet is full of warmth, free-spirited, and optimism, while Fred is full of dullness, rigidness, and pestimism. When the two are forced to work on a impossible project to bring salmon to a hot desert area of Yemen for a positive political cover,  the two butt heads in the most enticing and comedic manner. Kristen Scott Thomas brings a blunt and quick-wittiness to her character, which carries comedic relief and guides the story forward. Especially when Harriet says "yes" and Fred says "no."

Amr Waked's character, Sheikh is a calm, intelligent, and visionary man whose confidence in the project makes you, the audience, and Fred (McGregor) to start believing in the unbelievable and challenging science for the better. He also shows how much Harriet and Fred do have in common, allowing the project to grow stronger and to allow them to find themselves again.

The scene where Fred is walking amongst the crowd and then turns around, going against the crowd, from a bird's eye view, subtly witty shot relatable to the salmon's journey. I will say the initial email, between the two main characters, being "typed" on the screen was a little too artsy-farty and over the top. Nevertheless, the film is delightful! And the landscapes span into the serene faith of.....well, fish!