Lasse Hallstrom shocked over Globe nominations

Lasse Hallstrom, the director of "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" says he was caught off-guard on hearing about the Golden Globe nominations for his film and stars Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt.

SOUNDBITE: Lasse Hallstrom, director, saying, (English):

"I found out through my wife (actress Lena Olin). She called me at five thirty, this morning, Los Angeles time. She watched it live in New York. I was very happy. It was fantastic news."

The film has received favorable reviews, and was released much earlier than the slickly timed releases of films aimed to get favorable nods and nominations.

In fact, Hallstrom first thought it wasn't in the running for awards this year, even forgetting the film had been released in 2012.

SOUNDBITE: Lasse Hallstrom, director, saying, (English):

"It was a surprise, I must say. I had almost forgotten that the film came out this year. Because it was supposed to come out last year. The English premiere was last year. So, it was a film of the past for me, a little bit. I made two movies since that."

In the film, McGregor plays a British fisheries scientist who, as the title implies, introduces salmon fishing to the waterways of Yemen.

Hallstrom is no stranger to the laurels of the business, as he is the mastermind behind many critically acclaimed films including "The Cider House Rules," and "Chocolat."