SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN

UK, 2011, 107 minutes, Colour.
Ewan Mc Gregor, Emily Blunt, Kristen Scott Thomas, Amr Waked, Tom Mison, Rachel Stirling, Conleth Hill.
Directed by Lasse Hallstrom.

Incongruous might be one word to react to the title of this entertaining film for older audiences. Just the right thing for a bus excursion to the local cinema.

But, it is also much more than that. Billed as a comedy, it is in the vein of old-style British comedy, not American, with an emphasis on character, dialogue and wit and an enjoyment of poking fun at authorities, government machinations and pomposity. But, it also has an underlying theme of respect for humanity, for differences and for mutual collaboration rather than mere opportunism.

Not only does the title seem incongruous, but the idea contained in it might seem ludicrous. And, that is what the central character thinks when he is approached about working on it. He is Alfred Jones, a scientist and civil servant, not blessed with a sense of humour, single-mindedly devoted to his area of fish and fishing, an amateur when it comes to emotions and feelings. He is played by Ewan McGregor? with just the right touches of niceness and the ability to irritate.

A Yemeni sheik (Egyptian actor Amr Waked in a sympathetic performance) wants to import salmon into the Yemen, not just for his own pleasure (he is a devoted fly fisherman with a castle in Scotland as well) but for the possible development of agriculture and industry in his country. He is referred to as a visionary and has set up a dam and the means for salmon spawning. He is offering 50 million pounds to the UK for his scheme. (Do Yemeni sheiks have so much money?). His investment advisor is a sensible young Englishwoman, Harriet (plus a double-barrelled surname) played by Emily Blunt.

Alfred and Harriet are something of an odd couple, she convinced that the project is worthwhile and patient with and tolerant of Alfred’s rejection of the plan.

But, of course, you know that they are going to pursue the project and that we are going to be caught up in their growing enthusiasm, charmed by the Sheikh and his pointing out to the scientist who holds no brief for faith just how much we do act on faith in our lives), that we will be interested in the trips to the Yemen (Morocco locations standing in as usual), and that we hope it will be a success.

It does not all proceed as hoped for. There are fundamentalist terrorists who see the Sheikh as destroying traditions. There are bureaucratic difficulties and a revolt of British salmon fishers who refuse to let the objects of their sport migrate beyond their shores. And there is the British government. Which is where Kristin Scott Thomas comes in. She is the Prime Minister’s press officer, a wheeler-dealer with a capacity for spin that real spin doctors might envy. She has a way with words and invective as well as seizing every moment and exploiting it that would not be out of place in the series and film, In the Loop. She has done variations on this performance many times but is given so many good lines that she often steals the show – even in talking to her young children.

There is a romantic sub-plot. Harriet is in a relationship with a soldier sent to Afghanistan. Alfred takes his wife, who is a respected consultant, for granted without realising it. Again, this does not quite proceed as audiences might think, so there are elements of surprise towards the end.

The film looks good and has been directed by Swedish Lasse Halstrom who has had a twenty year career in Hollywood with such films as Cider House Rules, Chocolat and The Shipping News.
1. The title, expectations, the tone?

2. A British entertainment? The age of the target audience? Older, younger? A romantic comedy British style? Issues of development, foreign aid, British politics? Exploitation and spin?

3. The use of irony, Patricia Maxwell, a character, her attitude towards her family, towards her job, the nature of spin, her deals, pressurising people, on the phone all the time, taking advantage of the news, her public comments, manipulation? The animation style of her communication with the prime minister? With the minister?

4. Yemen, the sheikhs, their money, the salmon fishing hobby, the sheikh’s faith? His Scottish home, castle? Fishing in Scotland? The giving of fifty thousand pounds? Negotiations, investment, discussions? The dam and the hatchery in Yemen? The credibility of the enterprise? The dark side, the rebel Yemenis, traditions, assassination attempt, the final terrorism?

5. The introduction to Alfred and Harriet via their correspondence? Harriet, her role, investment, her double-barrelled name, her hopes? Alfred, his work, his reply, mocking the idea? The government wanting a good story? The background of Afghanistan and the Middle East? Patricia Maxwell, her pressure? The prime minister, his office and department?

6. Alfred, his personality, the suggestion of Asperger’s, his work, single-minded, his expertise, inventing the fishing flies, fishing, writing? His library? His attacking his boss? His relationship with Mary, the tension, the pain,sexual relationship? His being opposed to the scheme?

7. Harriet’s story, her work, investment, her relationship with Robert? Meeting him, the playful attitude, the sexual relationship? The suddenness of his transfer? Her fears?

8. Her skills in trying to persuade Fred about the project? Various incidents at the office, the meetings, the Three Gorges Dam, engineers? Going to Scotland, the fishing, Fred and his encounter with the sheikh? The discussions, the nature of faith? Seeing the sheikh was genuine? His relationship with his boss, demanding the salmon? The political implications, the salmon fishers, the bureaucrat organising the headlines against the project? Patricia Maxwell and her interventions? Her pressure on the boss? Her solution of going to the salmon farms? The commercial limitations? Fred’s scepticism?

9. The visits to Yemen, the preparations, the work done, the nature of the progress, the terrorists, their hostility to the sheikh, sending the assassin to Scotland, Fred and his saving the sheikh with his fly-fishing rod? Fred and the reasons for his changing his mind? Meeting the sheikh, his love of science, the influence of Harriet? Mary and her attitudes? The bonding between Fred and Harriet?

10. Mary, her character, her work, going to Geneva, the plainness and tension, the visit home, texting Fred, not wanting a divorce?

11. Harriet, Robert missing in action, her grief and inability to act, Fred and his coming to help, the sandwich, her attack on him, her apology? Persuading her to go to Yemen?

12. The developments in Yemen, bringing the salmon, hoping that they would move upstream?

13. Patricia Maxwell, the minister going to Yemen, discussions with the prime minister, the revelation about Robert and his survival? The photo opportunities? Everybody going to the Yemen?

14. The salmon, the change of direction, their going upstream? The dam? The terrorists, opening the sluices, the flooding of the salmon?

15. The sheikh, his hopes dashed – but his Muslim faith, his attitude towards fate and destiny? His hopes?

16. Harriet, the reunion with Robert, her being overcome? Robert, his character? Sensing something wrong? Their being together, the preparation for the goodbye? Robert and his being willing to bow out? Harriet, saying goodbye to Fred, the salmon alive, her decision?

17. Fred, his finding something worthwhile in life, his love for Harriet, meeting with her, the declaration, Robert coming back, his needing to step back, his discussions with Robert, Robert doing the decent thing? Fred and his deciding to stay?

18. A contemporary fairy tale – with touches of irony and political satire?