Last weekend I went to see this film starring Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt and Kristin Scott Thomas. I confess I haven’t read the book, but I had a good feeling about the movie after watching its trailer.
I wasn’t disappointed. The story seems to be very fictional, but that doesn’t make it less enjoyable. Even if it’s fiction, it feels true, feels right.
I liked the subtext of the story; it was very easy to understand; yet it was still beautiful. The film is about people who go against the current, though they may not have done it before. They do it because they feel that risky changes promise a lot more than normal but dull life. Can they change themselves, can they find courage to change others too? A beautiful metaphor is used here: salmon, raised in the captivity for generations, is released into the wild (well, not so wild) – will it follow its instincts, swim against the current?
Some people said this film adaptation is a bit simplistic and cheesy compared to the book (which I haven’t read, but very keen to do so now). To me, one thing is important – the film works. The love story and the crazy enterprise affair are further enhanced by the hilarious characters making witty and sarcastic remarks.
I would go as far as to say that this movie is something I’d have loved to film myself if I was a director.
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is full of light, humor, nature and love. See you in the cinema.