Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2011)

Director:

Lasse Hallström

Writers:

Simon Beaufoy (written by)
Paul Torday (novel)

Release Date:

9 March 2012 (Lithuania)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Plot:

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 Keywords:

Salmon | Sheikh | Faith | Desert | Press

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Amr Waked	...	Sheikh Muhammed
Emily Blunt	...	Harriet
Catherine Steadman	...	Ashley
Tom Mison	...	Capt. Robert Mayers
Ewan McGregor	...	Dr. Alfred Jones
Rachael Stirling	...	Mary Jones
Kristin Scott Thomas	...	Patricia Maxwell
Tom Beard	...	Peter Maxwell
Jill Baker	...	Betty Burnside
Conleth Hill	...	Bernard Sugden
Alex Taylor-McDowall	...	Edward Maxwell
Matilda White	...	Abby Maxwell
Otto Farrant	...	Joshua Maxwell
Hamish Gray	...	Malcolm
Clive Wood	...	Tom Price-Williams
Nayef Rashed	...	Rebel Leader
Peter Wight	...	Tory Grandee - Angus Butler
Waleed Akhtar	...	Essad
Steven Blake	...	Cabinet Member
Hugh Simon	...	Brian Fleet
James Cutting	...	Journalist
Colin Kilkelly	...	Journalist

Directed by
Lasse Hallström

Writing credits
Simon Beaufoy		(written by)
Paul Torday		(novel)

Produced by
Zakaria Alaoui	....	line producer: Morocco: Zak Productions
Guy Avshalom	....	executive producer
Nicky Kentish Barnes	....	co-producer
Stephen Garrett	....	executive producer
Samuel Hadida	....	co-executive producer
Victor Hadida	....	co-executive producer
Paula Jalfon	....	executive producer
Zygi Kamasa	....	executive producer
Jamie Laurenson	....	executive producer
Tori Parry	....	line producer
Paul Webster	....	producer

Original Music by
Dario Marianelli

Cinematography by
Terry Stacey

Film Editing by
Lisa Gunning

Casting by
Fiona Weir

Production Design by
Michael Carlin

Art Direction by
Steve Carter
Nicki McCallum		(short period) (uncredited)

Set Decoration by
Rebecca Alleway

Costume Design by
Julian Day

Makeup Department
Sonia Akouz	....	assistant makeup artist: Morocco
Khalid Alami	....	makeup artist: Morocco (as Khalid El Alami)
Zineb Bendoula	....	hair stylist: Morocco
Naomi Donne	....	hair designer
Naomi Donne	....	makeup designer
Lucy Friend	....	makeup artist
Anna Mirow	....	makeup trainee
Norma Webb	....	hair stylist
Norma Webb	....	makeup artist
Wakana Yoshihara	....	makeup artist: Morocco

Production Management
Helen de Winter	....	post-production supervisor
Duncan Muggoch	....	unit production manager: Morocco
Iain Smith	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mohamed Essaghir Aabach	....	third assistant director: Morrocco
Tarik Ait Ben Ali	....	second second assistant director: Morocco
Joe Barlow	....	third assistant director
Yann Mari Faget	....	second assistant director: Morocco (as Yann Mari-Faget)
Henry Forsyth	....	assistant director: reshoots
Louise Caruana Galizia	....	floor assistant director
Ahmed Hatimi	....	first assistant director: Morocco (as Ahmed Eric Hatimi)
Olivia Lloyd	....	second assistant director
Shaun O'Dell	....	second unit director
Matthew Penry-Davey	....	first assistant director
Mohammed Hamza Regragui	....	second second assistant director: second unit (as Hamza Regragui)
Lance Roehrig	....	first assistant director: second unit
Toby Sherborne	....	second assistant director: Morocco
George Taylor	....	additional third assistant director
Eileen Yip	....	base third assistant director

Art Department
Mohamed Amin Rharda	....	prop buyer: Morocco
Ahmed Azig	....	construction manager: Morocco
Abdellah Baadil	....	assistant art director: Morocco
Elhoussaine Baouzine	....	art department coordinator: Morocco (as El Houssine Baouzine)
Abdelhak Ben Amar	....	head painter: Morocco
Abdallah Bougtifa	....	set dresser: Morocco (as Abdella Bougtifa)
Christopher Chandler	....	dressing props chargehand
Lisa Chugg	....	production buyer
Billy Edwards	....	standby props chargehand
Idriss El Gholb	....	standby props: Morocco
Mabrouk El Hafiani	....	set dresser: Morocco
Abdellah El Kabous	....	head carpenter: Morocco (as Abdellah Kabous)
Lahcen El Yazidi	....	set dresser: Morocco
Muffin Green	....	property master
Khalid Guouram	....	art department runner: Morocco
Abdelhadi Hamri	....	assistant set decorator: Morocco
Kathy Heaser	....	assistant art director
Douglas Ingram	....	storyboard artist
Abdenabi Izlaguen	....	set decorator: Morocco
El Houssaine Jawad	....	assistant set decorator: Morocco
Ben Johnson	....	standby props
Pip Longson	....	art department assistant
Gary Martin	....	dressing props
Jim McCallum	....	props
Nicki McCallum	....	art director: Scotland
Adam McCreight	....	property storeman
Catriona McKail	....	standby art director
Anne-Marie Minty	....	art department trainee
John Moolenschot	....	stand-by carpenter
James Morrall	....	storyboard artist
Lahcen Yahya Mrabit	....	set dresser: Morocco
El Hassan Oubbane	....	standby props: Morocco
Craig Price	....	dressing props
F. Auguste Rahmberg	....	art department assistant
Amin Rharda	....	property master: Morocco
Antoine Robin	....	construction manager: Morocco
Mary Pat Sheahan	....	stand-by painter (as Mary-Pat Sheahan)
Simon Sparsis	....	standby carpenter: Scotland

Sound Department
Harry Barnes	....	supervising sound editor
Mark Broughton	....	foley editor
Gareth Bull	....	sound re-recording mixer
Martin Cantwell	....	sound designer
Ben Collinson	....	boom operator: dailies
Christian Joyce	....	sound mixer (second unit)
Peter Lindsay	....	production sound mixer (as Peter Lindsay AMPS)
Adam Mendez	....	foley mixer
Kate Morath	....	boom operator
Lee Sharp	....	sound assistant: dailies
Andy Stallabrass	....	adr mixer
Jack Stew	....	foley artist
Richard Straker	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jason Swanscott	....	foley artist
Michael Lee Taylor	....	sound assistant
Nourdine Zaoui	....	second boom operator: Morocco

Special Effects by
Mohamed Ali Aguermin	....	special effects technician: Morocco (as Mohamed Ali Aqermim)
Lahoucine Baouda	....	special effects technician: Morocco
Simon Cockren	....	special effects floor supervisor: Arcadia SFX
Garry Cooper	....	special effects coordinator
George Dunn	....	special effects lead assistant technician: Arcadia SFX
Dean Ford	....	special effects technician
Belaid Fougdal	....	special effects technician: Morocco (as Belaid Ait Fougdal)
Adbelaziz Ghouli	....	special effects technician: Morocco (as Abdelaziz Ghouli)
Alexander Gunn	....	special effects supervisor: Arcadia SFX (as Alex Gunn)
Aniss Hamidouch	....	special effects technician: Morocco
Mark Holt	....	special effects
Abdelhaq Jamal	....	special effects technician: Morocco
Mike Kelt	....	special effects supervisor: Scotland
Casper Lailey	....	special effects senior technician
Kyle May	....	special effects assistant technician: Arcadia SFX
Karl Openshaw	....	special effects senior technician: Arcadia SFX
Hanin Ouidder	....	special effects technician: Morocco
Mohamed Ouider	....	special effects technician: Morocco
El Housseine Sarou	....	special effects technician: Morocco

Visual Effects by
Pani Ahmadi-Moore	....	visual effects editor
Thomas Ayre	....	digital restoration
Adrian Banton	....	lead compositor: Lip Sync Post
Celeste Bothwick	....	digital compositor
Emma Braney	....	visual effects artist
Peter Collins	....	digital intermediate
Neil Culley	....	digital compositor: Lip Sync Post
Stefan Drury	....	head of visual effects
James Elster	....	digital compositor: Lip Sync Post
Sean Farrow	....	visual effects supervisor
David Gibbons	....	senior digital matte painter
Steven Gomez	....	digital compositor
Charlotte Gray	....	digital restoration artist
Elysia Greening	....	digital compositor: Lip Sync Post
Andre Hitsøy	....	cg supervisor: Lip Sync Post
Alice Holme	....	visual effects artist
Will Hudson	....	digital restoration
Emma Hulme	....	digital restoration
David Lloyd	....	senior systems engineer: Lip Sync Post
Ben Mars	....	lead animator: Lip Sync Post
Katie McCulloch	....	digital restoration
Abigail McKenzie	....	digital lab operator
Emelie Nilsson	....	digital compositor
Dylan Owen	....	digital compositor: Lip Sync Post
Antonio Rodríguez Díaz	....	digital compositor
Katie Roehrick	....	visual effects coordinator
Natalie Silver	....	digital restoration
David Sjodin	....	digital compositor: Lip Sync Post
Daniel Spain	....	systems engineer: Lip Sync Post
Lucy Tanner	....	visual effects coordinator: Lip Sync Post
Samantha Tracey	....	visual effects producer
Sheila Wickens	....	digital compositor: Lip Sync Post
Daniel Wood	....	fx artist: Lip Sync Post
Tom Wood	....	on-set supervisor: Lip Sync Post
Lenka Zuckova	....	visual effects artist

Stunts
Alessandro Di Martini	....	stunt double: Ewan Mcgregor
Alessandro Di Martini	....	stunts
Jamie Edgell	....	stunt coordinator
Jason Hunjan	....	stunt performer
Paul Kennington	....	stunt performer
Maurice Lee	....	stunt performer
Belinda McGinley	....	stunt performer
David Newton	....	stunt performer
Chris Newton	....	stunt performer (uncredited)
Alexandre Ottoveggio	....	stunt performer (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
El Mokhtar Aboukal	....	video assist (as Elmokhtar Aboukal)
Elhassan Aboulhab	....	generator operator: Morocco
Brahim Ait Belkas	....	camera trainee: Morocco
Ahmed Almrani	....	grip: Morocco (as Ahmed El Amrani)
Andy Arnautov	....	gaffer: Morrocco
Ray Bateman	....	generator operator
Brahim Bouaa	....	best boy electrician: Morocco
Elhassan Bouddi	....	location electrician: Morocco
Jeremy Braben	....	aerial director of photography
Warren Buckingham	....	aerial camera technician: wescam camera
Danny Butler	....	electrician
Pete Carrier	....	balloon technician
Mhamed Chaabout	....	generator operator: Morocco
Marco De Filippis	....	best boy electrician: Morocco
Sahoul El Alami	....	best boy electrician: Morocco (as Mohamed El Alami Sahoul)
Ismail El Moulloua	....	best boy electrician: Morocco (as Ismail El Mouloua)
Mike Farr	....	lighting balloon technician
Steve Fitzpatrick	....	standby rigger
Dan Garlick	....	grip: "b" camera
Ran Geffen	....	clapper loader: second unit
Scot Gill	....	electrical rigger
Josh Gimenez	....	video assistant
Darren Harvey	....	rigging electrician
Mohammed Amine Hlal	....	lighting technician trainee
Rupert Hornstein	....	focus puller: second unit
Steve Howe	....	stand-by rigger
Mouna Khaali	....	camera assistant: Morocco
Borivoj Klecka	....	best boy electrician: Morocco
Henry Landgrebe	....	clapper loader: "a" camera
Tom Lea	....	electrician
Stephen Lee	....	video operator
David Maund	....	key grip
Tom McGinley	....	electrician
Hamid Mellak	....	generator operator: Morocco
Pat Miller	....	rigging gaffer: Morocco
David Mills	....	camera trainee: "b" camera (as Dave Mills)
Jem Morton	....	grip: second unit
Roland Moses	....	generator operator: Morocco (as Roland 'Mo' Modes)
Simon Muir	....	dolly grip
Steve O'Donoghue	....	best boy
David Pearce	....	camera trainee dailies
Derrick Peters	....	focus puller: "b" camera
Jake Polonsky	....	director of photography: second unit
Alastair Rae	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Alastair Rae	....	steadicam operator
F. Auguste Rahmberg	....	camera trainee: "a" camera (as Auguste Rahmberg)
Abdelghami Rifki	....	best boy grip: Morocco (as Abdelghani Rifki)
Keith Saayman	....	libra head technician
Paul Snell	....	central loader: "a" camera
Laurie Sparham	....	still photographer
James Summers	....	rigging gaffer
Paul Swann	....	camera and equipment support
Martin Taylor	....	rigging electrician
Simon Tindall	....	focus puller: "a" camera
John Watters	....	focus puller: b camera
Dave Wells	....	grip: "b" camera
Harry Wiggins	....	gaffer
Tom Wilkinson	....	clapper loader: "b" camera
Andy Woodcock	....	grip trainee: "a" camera (as Andrew Woodcock)
Philip Nichol	....	camera trainee (uncredited)

Animation Department
Scott MacDonald	....	animator

Casting Department
Zine eddine Ibnou Jabal	....	casting coordinator: Morocco (as Zineddine Ibnoujabal)
Ruth Key	....	casting assistant
Kate McLaughlin	....	extras casting
Omar Tisli	....	casting assistant: Morocco

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Abdelkrim Akallach	....	costume supervisor: Morocco
Lauren Angela Coe	....	costume third assistant
Shahida Day	....	costume supervisor (as Shaida Day)
Zineb El Idrissi	....	assistant costume: Morocco (as Zineb El Indrissi Mendili)
Jane Marcantonio	....	standby costume assistant
Marnie Ormiston	....	standby costume second assistant

Editorial Department
Pani Ahmadi-Moore	....	first assistant editor
Matthew Benns	....	data operations manager
Eve Doherty	....	second assistant editor
Paul Ensby	....	colorist
Jason Fabbro	....	video colorist
Dan Farrell	....	conform editor
Todd Kleparski	....	digital intermediate producer
Mathieu Reid	....	color timer
Dominic Thomson	....	digital intermediate editor
Jonathan Sykes	....	data management (uncredited)

Music Department
Leo Abrahams	....	musician: acoustic guitar
James Bellamy	....	music editor
Dirk Campbell	....	musician: highland pipes and flute
Giles Lewin	....	musician: oud
Dario Marianelli	....	orchestrator
Maggie Rodford	....	music supervisor
Benjamin Wallfisch	....	orchestrator
Nick Wollage	....	score engineer & mixer

Transportation Department
John Ayres	....	minibus driver
Adam Blezeard	....	driver: prop truck
Steven Brigden	....	transportation coordinator
Danny Butler	....	driver: HGV
Piotr Chrzanowski	....	facilities maintenance: driver
Ben Dillon	....	picture car coordinator
Redouane Fihi	....	transportation captain
Paul Howitt	....	transport facilities manager
Stephen Lawrence	....	driver: Ewan McGregor
Graeme Main	....	camera car driver
Brett Owens	....	grip truck driver
Francisco Pinto	....	unit driver
Pete Trotman	....	driver: director

Other crew
Youssef Abagourram	....	assistant location manager: Morocco
Abdessalam Ait Abdelah	....	accountant: Morocco (as Abdeslam Ait Abdellah)
Elmahjoub Ahbid	....	base camp manager: Morocco
Hassan Ait Moudoud	....	set production assistant: Morocco
Saad Ajedigue	....	production assistant: Morocco
Mounir Akkaoui	....	set production assistant: Morocco
Cameron Arguelles	....	quality control
Mohamed Atbir	....	production assistant: Morocco
Daren Bailey	....	marine coordinator
Carrie-Ann Banner	....	assistant production co-ordinator
Elhoussaine Baouzine	....	cashier: Morocco (as El Houssine Baouzine)
Sean Barclay	....	location scout: Scotland
Noureddine Belfadla	....	set production assistant: Morocco
Jinane Ben Zaida	....	production coordinator: Morocco (as Jinane Benzaida)
Joshua Benedetti	....	location scout: dailies
Mohamed Benhmamane	....	location manager: Morocco
Nic Benns	....	title designer
Chris Betts	....	marine safety assistant
John Biondo	....	legal advisor: Lionsgate International
Alex Boden	....	production contact: London
Charles Bodycomb	....	armorer
Joseph Brodrick	....	cashier
Tom Bromwich	....	titles producer
James Buckler	....	delivery coordinator: BBC Films
James Buckler	....	production coordinator: BBC Films
Usha Chaman	....	travel coordinator
Ed Clarke	....	development executive: Kudos Pictures
Chris Collins	....	senior development executive: UK Film Council (as Christopher Collins)
Chris Collins	....	senior production executive: UK Film Council (as Christopher Collins)
Neringa Domarke	....	assistant: Executive Producers: Lionsgate
Francesca Dowd	....	production coordinator
Ellie Downham	....	assistant accountant
Brahim El Aissaoui	....	snake handler: Morocco
Will Evans	....	head of business affairs: UK Film Council
Eamon Fullen	....	marine safety assistant
Louise C. Galizia	....	floor runner
Simon Gillis	....	business affairs manager: BBC Films
Simon Gillis	....	legal affairs manager: BBC Films
James Grant	....	location manager
Faical Hajji	....	assistant location manager: Morocco
Radouane Hajji	....	unit doctor: Morocco
Hakima Hammoudi	....	construction nurse: Morocco
Chris Hankey	....	location assistant
Fiona Harper	....	production assistant: additional photography
Mitch Hill	....	stand in for Conleth Hill
Vince Holden	....	head of production finance: UK Film Council
Richard Hooper	....	armourer
Patrick Howson	....	assistant: Paul Webster: for Kudos Pictures
Jessamine Hugill	....	assistant: Lasse Hallström
Georgia Hume	....	production office runner
Redouane Inzig	....	set production assistant: Morocco
Paula Jack	....	dialect coach
Wendy Jaffe	....	legal advisor: Lionsgate International
Rachel James	....	post production accountant
Abdeljalil Jghou	....	set production assistant: Morocco
Mark Kinsella	....	assistant: Executive Producers: Lionsgate
Khadja Koulla	....	accomodation coordinator: Morocco
Khadja Koulla	....	travel coordinator: Morocco
Helen Lee-Kim	....	president: Lionsgate International
Susanna Lenton	....	script supervisor
Merixell Lombana	....	location runner
Cathy Lorimer	....	floor runner
Hugues Mace	....	floor runner: additional photography
Robert Madden	....	floor runner (as Rob Madden)
Robert Madden	....	floor runner
Nick Manzi	....	head of acquisitions: Lionsgate UK
Nick Manzi	....	head of production: Lionsgate UK
Garry Marriott	....	medic: second unit
Jamie Mayers	....	financial controller: Kudos Pictures
Michael Meyer	....	legal advisor: Lionsgate International
Deba Mithal	....	head of finance: Kudos Pictures
Fiona Morham	....	head of production: UK Film Council
Dave Morley	....	medic: additional photography
Abdellah Moudnib	....	set production assistant: Morocco
Hicham Moukhliss	....	set production assistant: Morocco (as Hicham Mokhliss)
Louise O'Malley	....	financial controller
Lance Palmer	....	marine supervisor
Sarah Parfitt	....	delivery paperwork coordinator
Kate Penlington	....	clearances
Lindsey Powell	....	assistant location manager
Yahia Qaci	....	assistant accountant: Morocco (as Yahiya Qaci)
Mohammed Hamza Regragui	....	production assistant: Morocco
Kirsty Robinson	....	assistant: paul webster
Judy Ryan	....	legal advisor: Lionsgate UK
Angelika Schierz	....	production secretary
Tanya Seghatchian	....	head of the film fund: UK Film Council
Alice Syed	....	production coordinator: additional photography
Widad Taha	....	shipping coordinator: Morocco
Michael Thorpe	....	marine safety assistant
Julia Tomlinson	....	location assistant
Tim Van Rellim	....	production executive
Nicholas Wade	....	assistant location manager (as Nick Wade)
Ed Wethered	....	development editor: BBC Films
David Wilcock	....	first assistant accountant
Michael Wood	....	production executive: BBC Films
Khalil Zghayou	....	set production assistant: Morroco
Sascha Robey	....	armorer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• UK Film Council (in association with) (awarding funds from The National Lottery®)
• BBC Films (presents) (in association with)
• CBS Films (presents)
• Lionsgate (as Lionsgate UK) (as Lionsgate International also) (in association with)
• Kudos Film and Television (as A Kudos Pictures production)
• Davis Films (in association with) (as Davis Films Productions)

Distributors

• Alfa Films (2012) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Alliance Films (2012) (Canada) (theatrical)
• CBS Films (2012) (USA) (theatrical) (presents)
• Concorde Filmverleih (2012) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Forum Film Czech (2012) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Forum Film Slovakia (2012) (Slovakia) (theatrical)
• Forum Hungary (2012) (Hungary) (theatrical)
• GAGA (2012) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Golden Village Pictures (2012) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Lionsgate (2012) (UK) (theatrical)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (2012) (France) (theatrical)
• Monolith Films (2012) (Poland) (theatrical)
• Paradiso Entertainment (2012) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Paradiso (2012) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Spentzos Films (2012) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2012) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Village Roadshow Entertainment (2012) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Village Roadshow Entertainment (2012) (New Zealand) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2012) (Switzerland) (all media)
• Concorde Home Entertainment (2012) (Germany) (DVD)
• EuroVideo (2012) (Germany) (DVD) (Rental)
• Film1 (2013) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Gulf Films (2012) (United Arab Emirates) (all media)
• Mongkol Major (2012) (Thailand) (all media)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Paris Filmes (2012) (Brazil) (all media)
• Pris Audiovisuais (2012) (Portugal) (all media)
• SF Home Entertainment (2012) (Sweden) (DVD)
• SF Home Entertainment (2012) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2012) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2012) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Tanweer Films (2012) (Bangladesh) (all media)
• Tanweer Films (2012) (Bhutan) (all media)
• Tanweer Films (2012) (India) (all media)
• Tanweer Films (2012) (Nepal) (all media)
• Tanweer Films (2012) (Pakistan) (all media)
• Tanweer Films (2012) (Sri Lanka) (all media)
• Tele München Group (TMG) (2012) (Germany) (all media)

Special Effects

• Arcadia SFX (special effects: Morocco) (as Arcadia SFX LTD)
• Artem (special effects: Scotland)
• Bandito
• Lipsync Post (visual effects)
• Mark Holt Special Effects (special effects) (as Mark Holt SFX LTD)

Other Companies

• ARRI Lighting Rental  lighting equipment
• ARRI Media  camera and grip equipment provided by
• Air-Edel Associates  music services
• Anvil Post Production  sound re-recording
• Audiolink Radio Communications  cell phone rentals
• Audiolink Radio Communications  walkie talkies
• Black Hangar Studios  soundstage
• Black Hangar Studios  water tank filming
• Compuhire  computer & video playback
• De Lane Lea  ADR recording
• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• Helicopter Film Services  aerial filming services provided by
• Kodak  motion picture film supplier
• Lakeshore Records  soundtrack
• Mad Dog Casting  extras casting
• Momoco/Maguffin  main titles and vfx
• Oxford Scientific Films  thanks (as osf.co.uk)
• Panalux  lighting equipment by (pick ups only)
• Pivotal Post  Avid HD editing equipment provided by
• Production Copier Company  production equipment and services
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services
• Technicolor  dailies
• Technicolor  negative development
• Technicolor  post-production
• Zak Productions  production services: Morocco

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some violence and sexual content, and brief language

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Arabic

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | Datasat | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #47322) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:7 | UK:12A | Ireland:12A | Malaysia:PG-13 | Netherlands:9 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Hong Kong:IIA | Portugal:M/12 | Mexico:B | Philippines:PG-13 | Argentina:Atp | Peru:PT | Japan:G | Germany:6

Filming Locations:

Ardverikie House, Ardverikie estate, Newtonmore, Highland, Scotland, UK

Company:

UK Film Council

Trivia:

When rehearsing with an instrumental ensemble in the church, Mary Jones is playing the sackbut (a Baroque precursor to the trombone) and Dr Jones is playing a bass viol (a precursor to the 'cello).

Goofs:

Continuity: Harriet's luggage disappears towards the end of the movie.

Quotes:

Dr. Alfred Jones:When things get tricky in my life, I talk to my fish.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Making of 'Salmon Fishing in the Yemen' (2012) (V)

Soundtrack:

Goodbye Hello

"Salmon Fishing" Makes For An Interesting Ride

Enjoying a film like "Salmon Fishing In The Yemen" is similar to acquiring a taste for actual fishing. Like the sport that some find invigorating while others find it dreadfully dull, this film has its draggy moments. However, there are also enlightening points to the movie that come when you least expect them.

Of course, that is not to say that you have to actually LIKE fishing, or understand it, to enjoy "Salmon Fishing In The Yemen". Fishing serves as a crucial plot point, but you don't have to be a card-carrying member of Cabella's or L.L. Bean to enjoy it.

The film has elements of romantic comedy, environmentalism, foreign relations drama, and insightfulness that makes it difficult to concretely categorize. Fortunately, all these facets combine to create a story that's far from predictable. Just like a current, there are times you don't know where the story is going.

Ewan McGregor plays Fred Jones, a fisheries expert for the British government who receives an odd request from legal representative Harriet Chetwode-Talbot (Emily Blunt). Harriet represents a wealthy sheik (Amr Waked) who resides in both Great Britain and Yemen, and has an unusual fondness for salmon fishing. He wants to take a healthy population of salmon from the British lakes, and transport them to the Yemen River to live and breed.

The reason this plot does not make for good cocktail party small talk or water cooler chatter is because it takes such a long time to describe the rationale behind such an ambitious task. For instance, can salmon, who thrive in cold water, even survive in the Middle East, where it's obviously hot? Plus, why would people from Yemen even be interested in fishing? The film answers these questions and others very well, and allows the story to breathe better as each subplot reveals itself. Nothing is rushed in this movie, which, while a few parts drag here and there, is overall a welcome departure from certain high-octane multiplex drivel that passes as entertainment.

Once you actually listen to the characters and hear their reasoning, a lot of the story makes sense. This fact is especially true for Amr Waked, who is not yet a well known actor, but whose character has a profound impact on the film.

Western audiences are not used to seeing a Middle Eastern character that is not a terrorist, let alone one who credibly connects fishing and faith better than any PBS show even could. Waked, who is Egyptian in real life but whose character is Yemeni, does so incredibly well, and is truly the breakout star of this movie. It's a shame that Oscar season just ended, because the early release of this film alone hurts his chances of receiving a Best Supporting Actor nomination, although he deserves it.

The inevitable love story in the movie is also unpredictable, if only because you're not sure whether McGregor and Blunt should be together. McGregor's Fred is married, and Blunt's Harriet has a boyfriend who is sent off to fight in the Afghanistan War. There are plot twists for both characters, but even you, the audience, remains unsure whether the two characters working together so well to bring salmon to Yemen means they should be together. It creates a necessary tension few romantic comedies dare to address.

As for their performances, McGregor seems to play a more mature leading role than in other films he's made before. His character here is more practical than idealist (as in "Moulin Rouge" (2001)), more professional than playboy (as in "Down With Love" (2003)), and knows where his morals lie (unlike "Trainspotting" (1996)). While he was good in those other films, he can only play those roles for so long.

Emily Blunt also delivered a balanced, multi-layered performance, and worked very well off McGregor. I thought there would be an explanation for why her character's last name was hyphenated, as you almost never see characters with two last names in movies. Could there have been a failed marriage in her past, perhaps? It wasn't ever explained, nor was it really crucial to the plot.

Kristin Scott Thomas also provides some unexpected comic relief as a press secretary for Parliament who chats with the British Prime Minister on Instant Messenger. Her character spearheads the campaign to transport the salmon to Yemen in order to divert public attention from the Afghanistan War. Again, a crucial subplot, but one that has to be seen, not explained second hand.

"Salmon Fishing In The Yemen" is enjoyable like some find fishing to be: there's a lot of calm to it, but when the funny parts happen, they can be as surprising and as fulfilling as catching a big fish. Also, if you actually listen to Amr Waked's character the same way some expert fisherman have pearls of wisdom, the movie's enjoyment may even come as a bigger surprise.