"'Salmon Fishing in the Yemen'? What's that?"
If you found yourself scratching your head as Lasse Hallström's little-known indie comedy racked up no fewer than three Golden Globe nominations this morning, you weren't alone. Though "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" was warmly received at its Toronto International Film Festival debut in 2011 and went on to receive positive notices upon its release in March 2012, it hasn't exactly been at the top of awards-watcher's lists.
Nevertheless, "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" scored nods for Best Actor, Musical or Comedy (Ewan McGregor), Best Actress, Musical or Comedy (Emily Blunt) and Best Picture, Musical or Comedy. Its total of three nominations put it in the company of higher-profile projects and not that far behind the day's leaders, "Lincoln" (with seven nominations) and "Django Unchained" and "Argo" (with five apiece).
"Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" tells the story of Dr. Alfred Jones, a scientist who is invited on behalf of a wealthy shiekh to introduce salmon fishing to the Mideast nation of -- wait for it -- Yemen. He is joined in this Quixotic pursuit by Blunt's plucky financial advisor.
Hallström, 66, was born in Stockholm, Sweden. His 1985 film "My Life As a Dog" won the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film, and his 1999 drama "The Cider House Rules" earned nominations for Best Supporting Actor (Michael Caine) and Best Screenplay (John Irving).
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