Salmon fishing in the yemen by paul torday was a political satire on new labour spin in britain. Its true now, and it will have been true in 2007, when salmon fishing in the yemen was first released. Mcgregor is dr fred jones, the uptight fisheries scientist who finds himself dragged into a wild scheme to. Best movies like salmon fishing in the yemen bestsimilar. Salmon fishing in the yemen is out on bluray and dvd, now. Torday carries it off with a wacky plot, vivid characters, and a knowing sense of politics and bureaucracy. The film version, starring ewan mcgregor and emily blunt, is about to come out. Based on the 2007 novel of the same name by paul torday, and a. Rachel well as the name suggests, it is actually about introducing salmon fishing in the yemen. Salmon fishing in the yemen is the first of british author paul tordays six novels to date. A visionary sheik believes his passion for the peaceful pastime of salmon fishing can enrich the lives of his people, and he dreams of bringing the sport to the. Dec 07, 2018 with so many books being published, its no surprise that publishers are always on the lookout for something new something that will make a book stand out. After being given no choice in the matter jones begins to do just enough to keep his job.
A pleasant fantasy with a crackerjack title, salmon fishing in the yemenis a charming film whose few attempts at seriousness are best forgotten or ignored. Salmon fishing in the yemen is like finding a hidden stash of chocolate chip cookies on a sunday afternoon. Author paul torday makes his debut with this clever absurdist novel. Salmon fishing in the yemen by paul torday my rating. From simon beaufoy, the oscarwinning screenwriter of slumdog millionaire, comes this delightful and utterly original little film, salmon fishing in the yemen. Unlike a movie that gives you a tease of what will be happening like most films from the matrix to the dark knight to inception, etc. Alfred jones mcgregor is an expert in all things ichthyic and works for the uks version of the department of the interior. My moviegoing companion asked me as the credits rolled whether lasse hallstroms salmon fishing in the yemen was based on a true story.
Jan 09, 2012 a romantic, contemporary fable, salmon fishing in the yemen is the tale of government employee dr alfred, or fred, jones ewan mcgregor, a rather introverted scientist at the department of. Itas a nice return to form for director lasse hallstrom, with it. Without her knowing the specifics, it concerns the want of extremely wealthy sheikh muhammed bin zaidi bani tihama amr waked, the royal head of yemen, an avid sports fisherman, to introduce. Salmon fishing in the yemen, by paul torday the independent. Jan 04, 2012 salmon fishing in the yemen was published in 2007. Salmon fishing in the yemen, based on a satirical novel, manages to lose the satire in damp whimsy despite a good cast that includes ewan mcgregor, emily blunt, and kristin scott thomas. Despite taking a little while to get going, the script comes together once the impossible task of. The impossible title of this extraordinary book took me back to a moment nearly 20 years ago. Parents need to know that salmon fishing in the yemen is a quirky romance with a mishmash of themes that includes love, international relations, faith, war, marital infidelity, and fishing. Alfred jones is approached by an extravagantly wealthy sheik with a novel plan. Ten years after salmon fishing in the yemen was first published, that is. At the centre of paul tordays debut novel is an unlikely hero, dr alfred jones.
Salmon fishing in the yemen audiobook listen instantly. Salmon fishing in the yemen is less a classic fishoutofwater tale than a fishinstrangewaters tale, a study in diametric opposites that finds unexpected synchronies and moments of almost mystical harmony. Salmon fishing in the yemen by paul torday goodreads. To foster goodwill, the sheik would like to introduce salmon fishing to yementhe same yemen that is largely a desertand.
I like to think its to deemphasize the main plot points role in the movie. Alfred jones mcgregor about a shiek from yemen who wants to bring the sport of salmon fishing to his country he laughs it off. In fact, the movie is based on the 2006 bestselling debut novel by paul torday. The book tells of the heroic efforts to bring one mans dream to fruition. I mean who ever thought a script with that title would be so good. Salmon fishing in the yemen 2011 plot summary imdb. Salmon fishing in the yemen, with ewan mcgregor the new. Nov 30, 2012 salmon fishing in the yemen movie clip 32 inch waist 2012 emily blunt movie hd duration. Sheikh muhammad ibn zaidi bani tihama is a wealthy yemeni who owns an estate in scotland and has decided what yemen really needs is some local salmon fishing. Salmon fishing in the yemen by paul torday, paperback. Mar 09, 2012 salmon fishing in the yemen, based on a satirical novel, manages to lose the satire in damp whimsy despite a good cast that includes ewan mcgregor, emily blunt, and kristin scott thomas. Salmon fishing in the yemen is a debut comedy novel written by paul torday and published in 2007.
It is based on his extensive experiences of industry and government, as well as his personal interests in salmon fishing and the middle east. With a wickedly wonderful cast of characters including a visionary sheikh, a weasely spin doctor, freds devilish wife and a few thousand transplanted salmon salmon fishing in the yemen is a novel about hypocrisy and bureaucracy, dreams and. Mixing political satire with broad humour, unlikely romance and even an assassination plot, it casts its net wide and gets a. Salmon fishing in the yemen is a debut comedy novel written by paul torday and published in 2007 torday was 59 when the book was published. Feb, 2012 but salmon fishing in the yemen is bit more complicated than that. Salmon fishing in the yemen is less a classic fishoutofwater tale than a fish in strangewaters tale, a study in diametric opposites that finds unexpected synchronies and moments of almost mystical harmony. Mcgregor is dr fred jones, the uptight fisheries scientist who finds himself dragged into a wild scheme to introduce salmon fishing to the yemen, dreamed. Salmon fishing in the yemen, with ewan mcgregor the. Salmon fishing in the yemen, at its heart, is not a movie about fish at all. Salmon fishing in the yemen is a 2011 british romantic comedydrama film directed by lasse hallstrom and starring ewan mcgregor, emily blunt, kristin scott thomas and amr waked. But just when youre upbraiding torday for his valetudinarian decency, he pulls off an ending both apocalyptic and wholly unexpected. I hate to say this, as a bit of a book snob, but i think the film did the ending much.
With so many books being published, its no surprise that publishers are always on the lookout for something new something that will make a book stand out. A romantic, contemporary fable, salmon fishing in the yemen is the tale of government employee dr alfred, or fred, jones ewan mcgregor, a rather introverted scientist at. It is an incredulous idea that a certain fisheries scientist tries to bring to life. Apr 07, 2012 i like to think its to deemphasize the main plot points role in the movie. Unlike those in the book, who speak through emails, diaries, letters and interviews, the characters here leave the impression of giving harmless. I didnt exactly feel as if i was on the road to damascus, and i was aware i could not think straight because of the power of the sun, but now i knew what the yemen salmon project was all about. Despite taking a little while to get going, the script comes together once the impossible task of achieving this goal is put into motion. This story is not all about the ending luckily, so the film is not. Salmon fishing in the yemen is an excellent book, original, intriguing and for the most part very. Praise for salmon fishing in the yemen at its heart is joness journey from skepticism to belief. Mar 09, 2012 a pleasant fantasy with a crackerjack title, salmon fishing in the yemenis a charming film whose few attempts at seriousness are best forgotten or ignored. It was adapted into a movie in 2011, directed by lasse hallstrom and starring emily blunt, ewan mcgregor and kristin scott thomas.
Salmon fishing in the yemen is the kind of film you might find on the dvd shelf of a holiday cottage, and thats not necessarily a criticism. Though the setup repressed scottish scientist helps arab shiekh bring salmon to a desert country, falls in love has the strangeness of real life, the movie is so intent on being nice to its characters and. An epistolary tale with high drama woven into the plot. It is an excellent message, but it almost gets lost amidst the romance,espionage, and political posturing that overtakes the plot. Written when he was 59 years old at the end of a successful business careeer, the book reportedly allowed him to write about what he knows best as every teacher urges in creative writing 101. Salmon fishing in the yemen salmon fishing in the yemen audiobook, by paul torday. The best exotic marigold hotel 2011, the jane austen book club 2007, beginners 2010, blue juice 1995, in good company 2004. A remarkably assured first novel, this one is a pure delight. Theres a little too much going on here, and the movie probably would have been better served to simply focus on, well, salmon fishing in the yemen. Having her team search for her, patricia maxwell dame kristin scott thomas, the hard nosed communications director for the prime minister, who tries to place a positive public spin on anything to make her boss look good no matter what it takes, decides on a story on salmon fishing in the yemen. Salmon fishing in the yemen movie clip 32 inch waist 2012 emily blunt movie hd duration. All in all, i quite enjoyed salmon fishing in the yemen for what it was a charming, slice of life, lowkey romcom. And about an attempt to bring salmon to the yemen so the people could enjoy the wonderful effects of fishing.
Salmon fishing in the yemen audiobook, by paul torday. Sheikh muhammad has a vision of importing the noble sport of salmon fishing to his native yemen, and decides to throw some of his considerable fortune towards bringing it about. This may not be science fiction, but there is certainly a lot of technology and science to keep a geek like me interested. I have to admit, i saw the posters and the trailer for the film. Mar 08, 2012 all in all, i quite enjoyed salmon fishing in the yemen for what it was a charming, slice of life, lowkey romcom. Salmon fishing in the yemen is the story of an extremely wealthy sheikh who. One day completely fail, in that it, ending aside, it stays true to the essence.
If you like salmon fishing in the yemen you are looking for sentimental, sincere and inspirational movies about with desert, businessman, fish, against the odds, hopes, doubts and hesitations and scientist themes of comedy, drama and romance genre shot in uk. Whats the story when britains leading fisheries expert ewan mcgregor is approached by a consultant emily blunt to help realize a sheikhs amr waked vision of bringing the sport of flyfishing to the desert, he immediately thinks the project is. A wonderful book about a crazy project, literally introducing salmon fishing in the yemen. To foster goodwill, the sheik would like to introduce salmon fishing to yemen the same yemen that is largely a desertand. It is an incredulous idea that a certain fisheries scientistmore well as the name suggests, it is actually about introducing salmon fishing in the yemen. Apr 19, 2012 salmon fishing in the yemen is the kind of film you might find on the dvd shelf of a holiday cottage, and thats not necessarily a criticism. Jun 10, 2010 salmon fishing in the yemen is like finding a hidden stash of chocolate chip cookies on a sunday afternoon. Dr alfred jones is a civil servant at the national centre for fisheries excellence. But salmon fishing in the yemen is bit more complicated than that. Salmon fishing in the yemen is based on paul tordays novel, a political satire that was a bestseller in the uk, and allows an opening into the worlds of british and yemeni politics, the devotion of salmon fishermen, and the possibilities of romance among humans and salmon, who in this story must both swim upstream. With a wickedly wonderful cast of characters including a visionary sheikh, a weasely spin doctor, freds devilish wife and a few thousand transplanted salmon salmon fishing in the yemen is a novel about hypocrisy and bureaucracy, dreams and deniability, and the transforming power of faith and love. Overall the movie has a genteel feel, and though theres some salty language including ass, bastard, and one use of fk, its not excessive. Viewers who take the sheikhs advice and suspend their disbelief, even for a moment, may well find themselves hooked. The book is from 2007, but has been brought into public attention by the recent movie made based on the novel.
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