DVDs

Salmon Fishing In The Yemen Review

02/09/2012

1,096 2 minutes read

Salmon Fishing In The Yemen

Reviewed by David Savage

Starring: Ewan McGregor, Emily Brunt, Kristin Scott Thomas
Directed by: Lasse Hallsrrom
Certification: 12
Running Time: 107 minutes (approx.)
Format: DVD and Blu-Ray
Release Date: 3 September 2012

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is based on the book of the same name by Paul Torday. A British comedy about overcoming the odds and how belief and faith are powerful motivators.

It starts with Harriet Chetwode-Talbot (Emily Brunt) sending an email to fishing expert Dr Alfred Jones (Ewan McGregor) for his advice on a bizarre plan to introduce salmon and the sport of salmon fishing into the Yemen so Sheikh Muhammed can fish there.

Alfred thinks the project is fundamentally unfeasible and says he is unable to help but with trouble in Afghanistan The Prime Minister’s Press Secretary (Kristin Scott Thomas) and the British Government need a good news story about the Middle East and so start looking at news stories to hijack including a new girl band and a car rally but decide on the salmon fishing project to promote Anglo-Yemeni relations. This forces Dr Jones to get involved in a project he deems a joke or he will be fired. Needless to say, he is very reluctant but agrees to do it.

With the sheikh’s enthusiasm and a visit to the Yemen Fred starts to become excited about the project and starts to believe that it may work but after the British Government pull out of deal to provide 10,000 fresh water salmon Fred quits his job.

Terrorists in the Yemen do not like what the sheikh is doing and try to kill him but this is foiled by Fred with a cast of his fishing line. This results in the sheikh being very grateful and they continue with their plan for the salmon fishing and use farm breed stock.

Will they succeed with this bizarre plan or will terrorists stop them?

As well as this project Fred’s marriage is breaking up and Harriet’s soldier boyfriend is missing in Afghanistan, presumed dead, so Fred and Harriet start to become very close.

Overall, this is a very entertaining, original and refreshing film with an original storyline. Very well-acted by the cast with Kristin Scott Thomas providing a lot of the more comedic moments. Despite the bizarre plot I was pleasantly surprised and it actually works. A gentle romantic comedy and a must see.

Rating: 5/5