VOA标准英语2012--Man Follows Upstream Dream in 'Salmon Fishing in The Yemen'

Man Follows Upstream Dream in 'Salmon¹ Fishing in The Yemen'

Dr. Alfred Jones knows pretty much all there is to know about salmon. So when a wealthy sheikh asks him to create fishing streams in the desert, he is, to put it mildly, skeptical².

SHEIKH "You think I am mad."

JONES "No, your excellency …"

SHEIKH "Of course you do. I would question your judgment³ if you did not. I have a dream that one day when war is in the air, someone will say 'gentlemen, let us arise and go fishing.'"

As he learns to share the sheikh's passion for the project, Jones has to deal with politicians trying to take credit for his work. And he also falls in love. 

Salmon Fishing in The Yemen is based on a novel by Paul Torday and is adapted for the screen by Simon Beaufoy, whose scripts include the Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire.

"None of us are going to lose our long-lost loves in the slums of Bombay or try to set up a salmon fishing run in the Middle East. But we are all battling against people telling us 'that is not possible. You can't do that.' We say 'I know, but I'm going to try anyway,' " Beaufoy says.

JONES "I can't help imagining that this crazy enterprise might just come off."

SHEIKH "Faith, Dr. Alfred?"

JONES "Yes, all right then, faith." 

Ewan McGregor stars as Alfred Jones.

"The whole film, from my character's perspective, is about the idea of not being able to believe," explains McGregor, "and being locked up so you can only see the world through this little myopic⁴ lens of your fish science and your unhappy marriage. Through working with the Sheikh and meeting Harriet, Alfred becomes somebody who is able to believe."

HARRIET "Dear Dr. Jones, I act on behalf of a client who has indicated a desire to introduce the sport of salmon fishing into the Yemen."

JONES "This is plainly ridiculous. There's just no way that salmon can survive in those sort of environments."

Emily Blunt plays Harriet, the Sheikh's representative, who becomes swept up in the project.

"The title in itself is a very fresh idea. I think that's something you look for because you read so many scripts, all of the same ilk," notes Blunt. "It is really refreshing⁵ to read one that has that kind of beautifully, note-perfect story."

Director Lasse Hallstrom says the tone of the story as well as its broad range drew him to the project.

"It's life, love and passion, faith and what really moves us forward and propels us to cope with life and go upstream and all of those things," Hallstrom says. "But it is also quite bizarre, fun and serious. It has a range that is absolutely wonderful."

The cast also features Kristin Scott-Thomas as a government press secretary trying to use the project for political gain. The desert scenes were shot in Morocco which doubles for Yemen.

1 salmon   

n.鲑，大马哈鱼，橙红色的

参考例句：

• We saw a salmon jumping in the waterfall there.我们看见一条大马哈鱼在那边瀑布中跳跃。
• Do you have any fresh salmon in at the moment?现在有新鲜大马哈鱼卖吗？

2 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

3 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

4 myopic   

adj.目光短浅的，缺乏远见的

参考例句：

• The Government still has a myopic attitude to spending.政府在开支问题上仍然目光短浅。
• Myopic views could be potentially damaging for us.目光短浅会给我们带来严重的后果。

5 refreshing   

adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的

参考例句：

• I find it'so refreshing to work with young people in this department.我发现和这一部门的青年一起工作令人精神振奋。
• The water was cold and wonderfully refreshing.水很涼，特别解乏提神。