Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is not the type of movie I would usually see. When I first saw the preview, I thought it would be some NPR approved, cross cultural feelgood whitewash. Also, it didn't look fun enough to be enjoyable or serious enough to be engrossing. So why did I drive 20 miles on a cold Sunday night to watch a movie I had misgivings about based on a preview and a couple reviews? There is exactly one reason why I saw
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, and her name is Emily Blunt.
So there's a feeling that a lot of stories coming out of the Middle East are negative in tone. I don't know where they would get that impression. Seriously, though. Kristin Scott Thomas plays the British Prime Minister's press secretary, and it's her job to try to dredge up a positive story about the region. She settles on a story about a wealthy sheik attempting to bring the sport of fly fishing to his home country of Yemen. Tasked with trying to make that happen by importing 10,000 fish to Yemen is Dr. Alfred Jones, Ewan MacGregor's fisheries scientist. His professional opinion is that this is a ridiculous project because fish used to cold North Atlantic water can't thrive in what he expects to be hot Yemeni water. Giving him a gentle push is Harriet, a consultant played by the divine Ms. Blunt. She would cause anybody to warm up to pretty much anything, which is definitely the case in terms of Alfred's views on the salmon project.
Also helping Alfred's attitude towards the project are his interactions with the sheik, played by Amr Waked. Their first meeting occurs in the river behind the sheik's estate. This is where we find out that Alfred is not only a fisheries scientist, but a creator of fishing lures as well. It just so happens that the sheik has used Alfred's fishing lures, and with some success. The sheik is definitely a charismatic man, but he's also one of those "enlightened" non-Westerners that seem to pop up everywhere. The sheik reminded me of nobody so much as Splinter from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with his hackneyed life lessons and grandiose statements that prove he has this life shit all figured out better than any Brit. Alfred, speaking to Harriet, says something to the effect of "the sheik's English tends towards the mystical," and that's just about right. "Have faith in my mumbo jumbo," the sheik might as well be saying.
As annoying as the sheik sometimes is, it is still pleasant to watch his friendship with Alfred unfold in tandem with the possible success of the project. Of course the friendship between Alfred and Harriet is a different kettle of fish(!) entirely. Alfred has a wife who is frequently abroad on business, and Harriet has a new boyfriend on deployment in Afghanistan. I'm not going to get into any more details of personal relationships, but I will say that the wife and boyfriend aren't name performers and they receive relatively scant screentime. Glean from that whatever you will.
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The great thing about having access to so many theatrical releases, TV documentaries, news magazines, and the like is that if one wants a hard hitting look at Middle Eastern politics and culture, they can find that. Then there is a movie like Salmon (for short), which, although it does touch on politics and not everything goes swimmingly, possesses a lighter touch and focuses more on personal relationships. People with different backgrounds and temperaments converge to reach a common goal. It's all incredibly cliched, but it's also all in the execution. Perhaps this is where I should finally mention that the movie is directed by Lasse Hallstrom. His movies have the tendency to ooze spray can cheese, but they have an equal tendency to put a smile on my face (although I'm sure that Dear John would still be revolting). Making a viewer like something in spite of himself is one possible way to judge the quality of a director.
Speaking of a smile on my face, Emily Blunt is great as usual. She is such an immensely appealing (that word again) screen presence. Of course there is her great beauty, but she also has a feminine charm that is sophisticated and not juvenile like it is with some other adult actresses. Also unlike other actresses, including ones that I used to really like but do no longer (Zooey Deschanel, Audrey Tautou), Blunt is versatile. When it is required for her to display sadness, anger, or any of the stock emotions, she does so believably and with nuance. Ever since The Devil Wears Prada I have never been less than impressed. Even in movies that haven't been that great, Blunt is always compelling. And beautiful, of course. My favorite actress.
