Salmon Fishing in The Yemen

2012 - Dir: Lasse Hallström

Shown at The FeckenOdeon on 19th October, 2012

The Yemen Tourism Promotion Board said they had been "inundated" with requests about the Western Asian country following the cinema release of Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. Benjamin Carey, Yemen Tourism's UK spokesman said : "There's been a real surge in visitors to our website since the film. One negative is that salmon fishing isn't actually that popular in Yemen, but there are excellent sea fishing opportunities in the country. Also, unfortunately the EU is currently advising against travel to Yemen, which we think is excessive. Some places are very hospitable….. but I wouldn't advise people to go to certain places at this time."

The book upon which this film based was partly a satire on the Blair government but the message has been softened - the main relic here of that intent is Kristin Scott Thomas’s hilarious turn as the prime minister’s press adviser. Some commentators have speculated that has been adjusted to scoop the same "grey pound" as the highly lucrative "Best Exotic Marigold Hotel". As tonight’s audience is likely to exactly fit that bill we can only thank the producers for recognising that we exist. Perhaps the message may at last get through to the major studios that older folk like a night out at the movies just as much as their grandkids do…. Interestingly "Salmon Fishing" veers away from the book in much the same way "Marigold" did. Both of them are more downbeat on the page than they are on the screen. That’s not to say that the films aren’t good in their own right - perhaps we need a cheerier view in these depressing times.

Lasse Hallström made his name directing videos for Abba (somebody had to!) But broke into the mainstream with the Oscar nominated "My Life as a Dog" (1985). His first English language success was "What’s Eating Gilbert Grape" (1993) - an atmospheric and moving account of life in rural America which kick started the careers of Leonardo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp (shown in FeckenOdeon 2 in 2010). Other notable Hallström films include "The Shipping News", "The Cider House Rules" and "Chocolat". It has been said that Mr Hallström is too serious a soul to direct a comedy and indeed one could wish for a lighter touch - perhaps his association with the perpetrators of "Mamma Mia" and "Super Trouper" scarred him for life?

Ewan McGregor gives a solid workmanlike performance but the undoubted star of this film is Kristen Scott-Thomas - demonstrating that she’s heading for at least The Peggy Mount Award for services to the great tradition of Women of Character (Comedy). Ms Scott-Thomas (or Mme Oliviennes in real life) has lived in France since she was 19, speaks fluent French and has a dual career playing funny British women and sultry French temptresses. She has been awarded both the O.B.E. and the Legion d’Honneur.