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.

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 myopic 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."

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 refreshing 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.