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showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsDesert Flower (2009) More at IMDbPro »
| Videos (see all 5) |
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Waris Dirie (novel)
Sherry Horman (writer)
Release Date:
24 September 2009 (Germany) more
Plot:
Based on the world best-selling book DESERT FLOWER by Waris Dirie - the autobiography of a Somalian nomad circumcised at 5... more | add synopsis
Awards:
1 win more
NewsDesk:
(7 articles)
Tracking Shot October 2009: The Social Network, The No Game, Cedar Rapids
(From ioncinema. 1 October 2009)
Venice film fest unveils lineup which includes 86 world premiers
(From QuietEarth. 30 July 2009, 1:50 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
drama and fairytale, but not an easy movie more (1 total)
Cast
(Credited cast)| Liya Kebede | ... | Waris Dirie | |
| Sally Hawkins | ... | Marylin | |
| Craig Parkinson | ... | Neil | |
| Meera Syal | ... | Pushpa Patel | |
| Anthony Mackie | ... | Harold Jackson | |
| Juliet Stevenson | ... | Lucinda | |
| Timothy Spall | ... | Terry Donaldson | |
| Soraya Omar-Scego | ... | Waris (12) | |
| rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Teresa Churcher | ... | Nurse Anne | |
| Eckart Friz | ... | Spike | |
| Anna Hilgedieck | ... | Tilda | |
| Matt Kaufman | ... | Burger Bar Manager | |
| Eliezer Meyer | ... | European Man | |
| Prashant Prabhakar | ... | Kami | |
| Nick Raio | ... | Truck Driver | |
| Robert Robalino | ... | Cafe owner | |
| Chris Wilson | ... | Embassy Official | |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Wüstenblume (Germany)
more
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
Germany:120 min
Sound Mix:
Company:
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (1 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Desert Flower (2009)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| Interview with Kebede and Review for Desert Flower | cjsole |
| Any North American release information? | lex_chartrand86 |
Recommendations
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| The English Patient | The Loss of Sexual Innocence | The Constant Gardener | Sahara | Mountains of the Moon |
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| News articles | IMDb Drama section | IMDb UK section |
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*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
Desert Flower is a weird movie. It is based on the life story of Waris Dirie, a super-model up there with Naomi Campel and Cate Moss. The movie focuses on the time from just before her discovery until her big success, with constant flashbacks of her childhood in Somalia and her way to London. Liya Kebede plays a wonderful Waris Dirie, very lovely and full of surprise and fear of the daily life we all take for granted, while at the same time showing great bravery and a strong will to fight for a better life. The rest of the cast is medium at best, a positive exception only the character of Terence Donovan, the photographer that discovered Waris Dirie. The director did not resist the temptation to give Waris a sort of "funny sidekick-friend" as well as the stereotypical I-Jumped-Out-Of-"The Devil Wears Prada"-Movie - manager, to add some slapstick-touch, which was totally unnecessary.
The movie does not leave anyone untouched though, it has some heartwarming and touching as well as some very cruel and disturbing passages. It is funny and sweet when Waris is struggling with the British everyday life, making friends, and so on. It is hard to bear when you are faced with drastic pictures of a 3 year old girl being circumcised, with a 19-year old woman suffering still from this cruel and brutal violation, and with the fact that a whole tradition tries to justify this. And that is the main weak point of the movie. The changes from the funny, light and sweet scenes to the brutal and cruel ones come without warning. The editor or director does not give you the time to set your mind to that kind of situation, and after a hefty scene they just switch back to the light comedy-part as if nothing happens. While I understand the intention, for me as a viewer I could not enjoy the funny parts - which were never the less intended to entertain the audience. I recommend this movie if you can handle the topic, but do not look for a entertaining biopic with some depth. It has entertainment, it has depth, but it tries to deliver both but never brings it home all the way in the one or the other topic.