"Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" by Lasse Hallström - movie review

in #godflesh6 years ago (edited)

I love to watch Lasse Hallström's movies. His name has been a special sign of a landmark since the early 1990s - the time of " What's Eating Gilbert Grape" your beloved of all "Chocolate" ;), "The Shipping News" with the superb Kevin Spacey and Judy Dench, the intriguing "Casanova", the fairly narrative "An Unfinished Life" with the always brilliant Robert Redford, and closing our eyes on the oversold sweetheart of "Dear John" ... So we get to his latest work "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen ", which looks like a fairy tale - a breath. The movie is fun - laughs sincerely, but delicately; enjoys very good acting, and if we allow ourselves not to think too deeply - we may even swallow the excessive predictability of the final episodes.

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An inspired sheik (the impressive sapphire eyes of Egyptian actor Amr Wakefield decides to explore the question of whether the entire ecosystem of Yemen can change so that salmon is grown there, a pretty crazy idea, is not it? fish farming (all) and salmon lives Dr. Alfred Jones (starring Ewan McGregor) who explains with fun pictures the temperature and oxygen requirements for the normal development of the fish-traveler. and the interests of the Sheikh in the UK - Harriet (Emily Blunt), which transmits the financial parameters of her employer's hypothetical-fantasy project, and as a result the sheik invites Dr. Jones to visit her Scottish mansion and explains to him that he is being pushed not only by egotistical motives (to practice the hobby), but also by willingness to engage their subjects in a slightly different way of life, to create livelihood, to change their thinking, to bla bla, and to all sorts of similar altruistic explanations. Forced by his bosses and subsequently ambitious - mostly because of the apparent improbability of such a project, Dr. Jones has been stepping up. An additional "fuel" in his thirst for success poured the frigid disinterest of his own wife and the sympathetic, energetic Harriet. But in the meantime, she is shocked by the news that her three-week-old boyfriend may have died during a campaign in Afghanistan. Oh, forgive - we slowed down in the clarification WHY this action is happening with the fish: in general, because the British Prime Minister's press officer ("irony," delightful to his image, Christine Scott Thomas!) Is also needed "good news from Middle East"!

Maybe here I have to look for some of my dissatisfaction - I was expecting the joking criticism, which tends to ironic, sarcastically colored, to be more categorical in the face of the famous political manipulation. I did not like this part of the story that was the last-most press-script scenario - and I do not think I can explain why "exactly", I just "falsely" sounded this thread of the plot as a thinly-made sugar cotton. It was not my taste for the moralizing sermons "about the fish and the faith" - the Sheikh and the Fisherman, you see, have been reeling to believe (wtf ?!) that the fish (in an unfamiliar / unusual environment) would have obeyed instinct and swim against the current. Unnecessary judgment would have been "clearer" to viewers if this philosophical deviation was lacking, but still the detail was a matter of directorial vision and scenario. Which reminds me that the development of heartbeat was too predictable for my taste ... But we did not forget to make the point that " Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" could be a fairy tale - then things are pleasant and acceptable.

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I would not miss to pay special attention to the actors - everyone enjoys very good performances! I do not know why Ewan McGregor seemed to "replicate" his character Catcher Blok from "Below the love!" To some extent, but I can look too - obviously, Mr. Halstrom gives a more frivolous view of history. Sheikh is improbably altruistic, in that fairy-tale style. Emily Blount's chick is "ok," but it would not do much to get more passion in her performance. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" is written by Simon Beufoy and with the knowledge of his creative potential I feel a little disappointment from the story of the story and the plot of history. But actually the film was a nice and fresh breath of oxygen (rich in oxygen), which we decided to expect when we heard about the project. British cinema with real class directed by Halstrom - I highly recommend!

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Incredibly profound film! He shows us how we need to believe, how important is faith in man, and at the same time - how disgusting fanaticism is from this faith. A lot of films were devoted to this topic for the history of cinematography. Take a look back! Politicians use everything they can to make people think about what politicians need. They are using the idea of ferrying salmon to Yemen, they are using the religious fanaticism of naive Wahhabis and more dangerous things. To people did not think! To the people silently do what he tells them!
Theoretically, life on Mars is possible. Theoretically, it is possible to arrange fishing in Yemen - and more than fishing. Theoretically, it is possible to save a person from a bullet with the help of a fishing line. Theoretically, it is possible to survive where no one has survived. And theoretically, we can assume that "Salmon fishing in Yemen" in the future will achieve, despite the utter failure at the box office, great popularity. In principle, yes, hell, it's possible. You just need to strongly want it and try hard. But the main thing is that even theoretically one cannot live and not believe in anything at all. One can believe in God, in emptiness, in fish, in politicians. You can believe in love, you can believe in yourself. Or, as I personally am, in a movie. And at the same time incredibly dangerous is the blind and imposed on others their own point of view. Water in Yemen can offend God - this is believed by naive fanatics ...
As the film makes you think - and yet how beautiful it is shot. The darkened background, not pronounced front, and at the same time everything visually looks beautiful. The film is full of funny things. It can be reviewed several times and each time with a smile.
"Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" - a deep, extraordinary and terrific movie. I would not advise you to see it - I would insist on mandatory viewing.

"The salmon fishing in Yemen". The truth is that one does not know very well what to think when he meets the title of that film, but I was fascinated, he made me have a good time. Lasse Hallströn excellent director and screenwriter

We all know how talented Lasse Hallströn is. That title is a catchy one i didn't have any idea what the film is about. It was a roller coster ride. Thanks for writing. Loved it! 💜

Classic film! Saw this several years ago and loved it.

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