Sunday, April 15, 2012

What Was The Last Movie That Moved You?

Yesterday afternoon, my dad and I went to see a matinee of "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen." My mother and sister had gone to the opening and raved about it so much that my dad decided that he had to see it.
I am so glad that he insisted. It was charming and unusual. While there were a few over-the-top touches that I found cheesy and unnecessary, as a whole the film was a delight. There were moments during the movie when my cheeks hurt because I was grinning so much. There were other moments that I wished I had a pad and pencil with me so I could write down the wonderful lines. At some point in the film, I remember thinking, "If I could write a movie, this is the  kind of movie I'd want to write."

An all-star cast put this together, but it started with a debut novel written by a British businessman and dedicated fisherman, Paul Torday. Then, the screenwriter for "Slumdog Millionaire," Simon Beaufoy worked his magic on it and finally, it was directed by the talented, Lasse Hallstrom who also directed, "What's Eating Gilbert Grape."
The film was brilliantly acted as well. Emily Blunt and Ewan McGregor played the lead characters and it was lovely to watch as they calmly and quietly fell in love with each other. McGregor's character is a quirky scientist who becomes part of an Arab Sheik's far-fetched dream to bring salmon fishing to his native land. The fact that his land is a desert only makes the dream that much better. Emily Blunt is the Sheik's financial advisor and the person he's put in charge of shepherding his dream to reality.

There are twists and turns along the way, but the essence of this film is simple and sweet. Its about love and dreams and faith. At one point, the Sheik is questioning Ewan's character about his lack of religious belief. The Sheik then cleverly points out that all people who fish, (and Ewan is  a huge fisherman), are people of faith; they have to be to cast a line into the water hoping that a fish, that can't be seen, will attach itself to the hook. I could feel my dad smiling as he sat on the seat beside me. He is a man of deep faith and has spent his life explaining faith to  people who question it.

I loved this movie. I loved its whimsy and I loved its depth. Movies like "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" make me want to write books and read books and see movies and be in love and travel and see the world and explore the universe and explore my own heart. They make me believe that dreams can come true and miracles can happen. They make me  bigger and better. They expand me. Great art makes us grow.
GO SEE THIS MOVIE.  

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