If there were an Academy Award for strangest film title, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen would surely win. It ‘s based on a book of the same title, the 2007 debut novel by British writer Paul Torday (HMH), about a sheik who believes salmon fishing will help unite the people of Yemen. Publishers Weekly called it “winningly absurdist,” an assessment echoed by both Library Journal and Booklist (which starred it). Torday’s second novel, Bordeaux (HMH, 2009) received equally strong reviews. His third book, The Girl on the Landing, has not been published here.

The film’s director, Lasse Hallstrom, has had experience adapting quirky books; he directed Chocolat, The Cider House Rules, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, and My Life as a Dog.

Salmon Fishing stars Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt, and Kristin Scott-Thomas and received strong reviews at the Toronto Film Festival in September.

No tie-in has been announced. The film arrives in theaters on March 2 UPDATE: Now moved to March 9.

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