Desert Flower (2009)

Director:

Sherry Hormann

Writers:

Sherry Hormann (written by)
Waris Dirie (novel)
(more)

Release Date:

24 September 2009 (Germany)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

The extraordinary true story of the woman who crossed the desert and changed the world.

Plot:

The autobiography of a Somalian nomad circumcised at 3, sold in marriage at 13, fled from Africa a while...

Plot Keywords:

Nomad | Africa | Circumcision | U.N. | Supermodel

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Soraya Omar-Scego	...	Young Waris
Idriss Abdillahi Houfaneh	...	Old Man
Awa Saïd Darar	...	Amina
Roun Daher Aïnan	...	Waris' Mother
Osman Aden Dalieg	...	Waris' Father
Liya Kebede	...	Waris Dirie
Sally Hawkins	...	Marylin
Meera Syal	...	Pushpa Patel
Anna Hilgedieck	...	Girl in Shower
Lucrezia Phantazia	...	Girl in Boardinghouse
Craig Parkinson	...	Neil
Matthew Kaufman	...	Fastfood Manager (as Matt Kaufman)
Timothy Spall	...	Terry Donaldson
Prashant Prabhakar	...	Kami
Anthony Mackie	...	Harold Jackson
Tim Seyfi	...	Simon
Teresa Churcher	...	Nurse Anne
William de Coverly	...	Doctor
Mahamed Mohamoud Egueh	...	Amal
Daher Obsieh Aouled	...	Mister Galool
Mohamed Abdi Dahler	...	Truck Driver
Mardilla Saíd Djama	...	Waris' Grandmother
Fardouza Moussa Egueh	...	Aunt Aisha
Eckart Friz	...	Spike
Michele Thevenet	...	Make Up Artist
Juliet Stevenson	...	Lucinda
Matthias Ransberger	...	Casting Assistant
Eric Carter	...	Photographer
Kaltoun Hassan	...	Aunt Marium
Addo Sabrie	...	Ambassador
Emma Kay	...	Immigration Officer
Nigel Betts	...	Home Office Detective
Melanie Roberson	...	Room Mate
Anastasia Hille	...	Journalist
Safa Idriss Nour	...	Little Waris
Dahabo Ali Kidar	...	Midgaan
Robert Robalino	...	Cafe Owner
Nick Raio	...	Truck Driver New York
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gavin Blackburn	...	Photographer's Assistant
Elli	...	European Man (uncredited)
Grace Meurisse Francis	...	Chav (uncredited)
Chris Wilson	...	Embassy Official (uncredited)
Andrew Yiallouros	...	Supporting Artist (uncredited)

Directed by
Sherry Hormann

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Smita Bhide		script revisions
Waris Dirie		novel
Sherry Hormann		written by
Wüstenblume		dubbing dialogue

Produced by
Martin Bruce-Clayton	....	co-producer
Waris Dirie	....	co-producer
Manfred Fritsch	....	line producer: Dor Film
Gerhard Hegele	....	co-producer
Gerhard Hegele	....	line producer
Peter Heilrath	....	associate producer
Benjamin Herrmann	....	co-producer
Peter Herrmann	....	producer
Hans-Wolfgang Jurgan	....	co-producer
David Kelly	....	co-producer (as David P. Kelly)
Danny Krausz	....	co-producer
Ulrike Ladenbauer	....	in-house producer: Dor Film
Roch Lener	....	co-producer
Sigrid Narjes	....	associate producer
Bruno Pardigon	....	service producer: Djibouti
Bettina Reitz	....	co-producer
Sabine Schenk	....	line producer: New York
Til Schweiger	....	co-producer
Barbara Seiller	....	co-producer
Hubert von Spreti	....	co-producer
Susann Willmore	....	producer: BSI International Invest

Original Music by
Martin Todsharow

Cinematography by
Ken Kelsch		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Clara Fabry

Casting by
John Hubbard
Ros Hubbard

Production Design by
Jamie Leonard

Art Direction by
Matthias Klemme		(supervising art director)

Set Decoration by
Barbara Herman-Skelding		(as Barbara Hermann-Skelding)

Costume Design by
Gabriele Binder

Makeup Department
Peggy Kurka	....	additional makeup artist: London
Romy Meier	....	additional hair stylist
Romy Meier	....	additional makeup artist
Clariss Morgan	....	hair stylist: New York
Sonja Nabjinski	....	makeup artist: fashion unit
Markus Pavitschitz	....	makeup artist: fashion unit
Dunja Pflugfelder	....	additional hair stylist
Dunja Pflugfelder	....	additional makeup artist
Jenny Retzlaff	....	hair stylist
Jenny Retzlaff	....	makeup artist
Tatjana Richartz	....	additional hair stylist
Tatjana Richartz	....	additional makeup artist
Veronika Schiessel	....	makeup artist: fashion unit
Michele Thevenet	....	makeup artist
Maria Torfeld	....	makeup artist: New York
Stefanie Birrenbach	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
James Alexander	....	production manager: London
Heike Kresse	....	post-production supervisor
Aaron Levine	....	production manager: New York
Beth Sanders	....	production manager: London
Alexander Schmidt	....	assistant production manager: Djibouti
Jannis Stahnsdorf	....	unit manager
Klaus Sungen	....	production manager
Dietrich Voigtlaender	....	production manager: Djibouti
Christoph Wallmeier	....	unit manager (as Christoph Wallmeyer)
Erica Bensly	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jan Bernotat	....	additional first assistant director
Fardouza Moussa Egueh	....	second assistant director: Djibouti
Jochen Gosch	....	first assistant director
Urs Hirschbiegel	....	first assistant director: New York
Corinne Le Hong	....	second assistant director
Sam Le Page	....	second assistant director: London
Andrew Potter	....	third assistant director: London
Justin Ritson	....	second assistant director: New York
Madita Selas	....	third assistant director
Greg Staley	....	second second assistant director: New York

Art Department
Michael Baum	....	carpenter
Chris Baumstieger	....	stand-by carpenter
Volker Behnke	....	carpenter
Holger Birkelbach	....	painter (as Holger Birkelbad)
Dirk Burrekoven	....	dressing props
Chris Clarke	....	stand-by art director: London
Doug Coleman	....	on-set dresser: New York (as Douglas Coleman)
Vera De Bye	....	junior draftsman
Vera DeBye	....	art department assistant
Lars Dicht	....	dressing props
Susanne Dietze	....	painter
Eric Dixon	....	props: New York
Martin Dostal	....	head painter
Bill Earwaker	....	carpenter
Judith Fischer	....	store manager: Cologne
Angelo Friedel	....	swing gang: fashion unit
Eckart Friz	....	stand-by props
Annie Gilhooly	....	props buyer: London
Barbara Hartwich	....	set decorator assistant
Awaleh Djibril Hassan	....	art department assistant: Djibouti
Amara Heim	....	store manager: Berlin
Mike Hermann	....	carpenter
Petra Klimek	....	art director: Djiboutii
Johann C. Korff	....	carpenter
Chris Lunney	....	graphic designer: London
Mathias Lücking	....	construction manager
Bijou Martin	....	assistant prop buyer (as Bijou Claudia Martin)
Peter Meuthin	....	carpenter
Ulrich Mieves	....	carpenter
Tom Mirus	....	stand-by carpenter: fashion unit
Mounir Ismaék Mohamed	....	stand-by carpenter: Djibouti
Samatar Onar Mohamoud	....	stand-by carpenter: Djibouti
Frank Moldenhauer	....	sign and graphic artist
Konstanze Müller	....	graphic artist
Matt Noack	....	art department production assistant: New York
Hassan Saïd Olhayeh	....	stand-by carpenter: Djibouti
Morgan Parker	....	dressing props: London
Steve Parnell	....	property master: London
Daniel Poschen	....	carpenter
Matthias Prange	....	dressing props
Bob Provenzano	....	leadman: New York
Jeff Prudhomme	....	construction manager: Djibouti
Svem Radtke	....	dressing props
Dave Reardon	....	props assistant: New York
Anu Schwartz	....	art director: New York
Jan Oliver Seibel	....	painter
Markus Seyer	....	painter
Hans Streifer	....	swing gang: fashion unit
Alexandra Walker	....	art director: London
Dagmar Wiggenhauser	....	prop buyer
Petra Maria Wirth	....	art director: Cologne (as Petra-Maria Wirth)
Doreen Watkinson	....	prop maker (uncredited)
Ulrich Zeidler	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Stefan Colli	....	adr supervisor (as Stephan Colli)
Stefan Colli	....	sound supervisor (as Stephan Colli)
Heinz Ebner	....	sound mixer: Djibouti
Marjus Emonds	....	technician
Walter Fiklocki	....	sound mixer (as Walter Ficklocki)
Roland Freinschlag	....	boom operator: Djibouti
Peter Gleaves	....	adr mixer
Rick Gould	....	adr recordist
Dan Guachione	....	boom operator: New York
Alexander Hammacher	....	additional boom operator
Frank Hasselmann	....	boom operator
Nick Kray	....	adr mixer
Fridolin Menzel	....	dialogue editor
Falk Möller	....	sound re-recording mixer
Bettina Nesselrath	....	project coordinator
Hilde Nonnenmacher	....	project coordinator
Susanne Olsson	....	project coordinator
Gary Parker	....	boom operator: New York
Ingo Pusswald	....	dialogue editor
Mirko Reinhard	....	dialogue editor
Mirko Reinhard	....	foley editor
Mirko Reinhard	....	sound designer
Robert A. Sacchetti	....	sound mixer: New York (as Bob Sacchetti)
Wilmont Schulze	....	foley artist
Josef Steinbüchel	....	sound designer
Sebastian Stroux	....	foley mixer
Dale Whitman	....	sound mixer: New York
Markus Wimmer	....	adr editor
Roland Winke	....	sound mixer: Djibouti
David Arnold	....	adr recordist (uncredited)
Micki Joanni	....	synchron editor (uncredited)
Pierre Peters-Arnolds	....	dubbing director (uncredited)
Sebastian Pohle	....	adr recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Stuart Brisdon	....	special effects wet down: London
Eckart Friz	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Denis Behnke	....	visual effects supervisor
Michaela Braun	....	team assistant: Scanline
Christian Burggraf	....	system administration: Scanline
Andrea Huber	....	visual effects producer: Scanline
Claudia Lechen	....	compositing artist: Scanline
Dirk Matzkuhn	....	compositing artist: Scanline
Christian Pokorny	....	cg supervisor: Scanline
Thorsten Rolle	....	mattepainting: Scanline
Michael Scheffler	....	system administration: Scanline
Nadine Thomas	....	compositing artist: Scanline
Mortimer Warlimont	....	compositing lead: Scanline
Bjoern Wortmann	....	project coordination: Scanline (as Byörn Wortmann)

Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Becker	....	gaffer
John Billeci	....	generator operator: New York
Neil Bleifeld	....	video assistant: New York
Willem Bramsche	....	grip assistant: Djibouti
Kevin L. Bright	....	company grip: New York
Deborah M. Chamoni	....	director of photography: fashion unit (as Deborah Schamoni)
John Clifford	....	still photographer: New York
Wolfgang Dell	....	gaffer: fashion unit
Joe Doughan	....	key grip: New York
Steven Edick	....	electrician: New York (as Steve Edick)
Miriam Fassbender	....	clapper loader: Djibouti
Raphael Fink	....	electrician: fashion unit
Sven Fink	....	focus puller
Andrew Fishman	....	company grip: New York
Woldgang Gruber	....	video operator: fashion unit, Videolink
Sascha Görlich	....	additional electrician
Ralf Hauschild	....	electrician: fashion unit (as Rauf Gauschildt)
Sandy Hays	....	camera operator: New York
William S. Hays	....	steadicam operator: New York
Felix Hermann	....	video operator
Mouktar Mohamed Hersi	....	camera trainee: Djibouti
Peter Hodgson	....	video operator: London
Jamie Hunt	....	electrician: Lomdon
Ken Kelsch	....	camera operator
Diane Koronkiewicz	....	second assistant camera: New York
Theodor Krönke	....	electrician assistant
Kurt Lenning	....	electrician: New York
Emil Levtic	....	additional electrician
Anne Lisken	....	grip assistant
Clay Liversidge	....	best boy electric: New York (as Clay Liersidge)
Nathan Gabriel Lopez	....	loader: New York (as Nathan Lopez)
William Louthe	....	electrician: New York
Iain Mackay	....	clapper loader: London
Bernd Mayer	....	key grip
Nicu Mihailescu	....	electrician: fashion unit
Christopher Raymond	....	first assistant camera: New York (as Chris Raymond)
Volker Reichenberger	....	grip assistant: fashion unit
Kurt Rimmel	....	third grip: New York (as Curt Rimmel)
Rolf Rosendahl	....	focus puller: Djibouti
Martin Rudolph	....	clapper loader
Philipp Rössle	....	electrician assistant
Roland Scheidt	....	best boy electric (as Roland 'Diesel' Scheidt)
Christian Scheppe	....	electrician
Florian Schlegel	....	electrician assistant
Ingolf Schmidt	....	electrician: fashion unit
Verena Schulte	....	additional electrician
Tim Sedgwick	....	clapper loader: fashion unit (as Tim Sedgewick)
Frank Sheeky	....	practical electrician: London
Damian Smythe	....	electrician: London
Phil Testa	....	gaffer: New York
Markus Thanner	....	key grip: fashion unit
Roland Tomalla	....	electrician (as Roland Thomalla)
Oliver Täubrich	....	electrician assistant
Dan Vranesich	....	best boy grip: New York
Martin Walocha	....	electrician assistant
Walter Wehner	....	camera: making of
Walter Wehner	....	still photographer
Marko Wehnert	....	electrician assistant
Charley van den Steenhoven	....	video assist operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Mahamed Abdi	....	casting: Somali, UK
Amir Nasser Ayaeh	....	extras casting: Djibouti
Simona Conring	....	extras casting: fashion unit, Real Life Casting
Donna DeSeta	....	additional casting: New York
Brendan Donnison	....	adr voice casting
Lesley Gogarty	....	extras casting: UK
Ruth Hanahoe	....	casting assistant
Meredith Jacobson	....	casting: small parts, New York, Amerifilm Casting
Corinne Le Hong	....	additional casting: Germany
Sylvia Montalti	....	additional casting: Djibouti
Iris Müller	....	extras casting: Germany
Gary O'Sullivan	....	casting assistant
Tanja Schwichtenberg	....	extras casting: Germany
Mathias Venardi	....	additional casting assistant: Djibouti
Harriet Sloggett	....	casting assistant (uncredited)
Adam Vincentz	....	location extras casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Senay Ay	....	assistant costume designer
Julia Hillerich	....	additional wardrobe
Marita Hoffjann	....	costume trainee
Deka Youssouf Houssein	....	wardrobe assistant: Djibouti
Katja Kirn	....	additional wardrobe
Dorothy Masters	....	wardrobe supervisor: New York
Frankie Mathieson	....	costume intern: London
Maggie Miles	....	assistant costume designer: New York (as Maggie Lee-Burdorff)
Kerstina Schemmel	....	additional wardrobe
Natascha Seidel	....	wardrobe
Shanti Spohn	....	wardrobe: fashion unit
Sam Weeden	....	additional costume runner: London
Alice Wolfbauer	....	wardrobe supervisor: London
Heike Ziegler	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Sandra Aichinger	....	colorist lab
Lee Bennett	....	colorist: dailies
Caro Biesenbach	....	editing assistant (as Carolin Biesenbach)
Willy Delgado	....	film recordist: Arrilaser
Markus Erl	....	digital intermediate editor
Michael Hackl	....	projevt coordinator hd mastering
Erich Harant	....	high definition q/c
Arne Hastedt	....	lustre assistant
Christian Herrmann	....	digital intermediate producer
Ulrich Hochleitner	....	high definition transfer
Angelika Hoppe	....	high definiyion q/c
Boris Link	....	high definition colorist
Christian Littmann	....	digital intermediate line producer
Markus Mastaller	....	film scanner: Arriscan
Traudl Nicholson	....	digital colorist
Angie Reichenberger	....	project coordinator: lab (as Angela Reichenberger)
Hari Schernthaner	....	head of digital intermediate
Daniel Schwerdtfeger	....	project coordinator: dalies
Martin Schwertführer	....	head of analogue post-production
Anja Senckpiehl	....	high definition transfer
Sascha Stiller	....	film recordist: Arrilaser
Steven Stuert	....	film scanner: Arriscan
Andreas Thomas	....	project coordinator: dailies

Music Department
Joris Bartsch Buhle	....	conductor
Tobias Lehmann	....	sound engineer
Rene Moeller	....	sound engineer
Maurus Ronner	....	orchestrator
Tom Russbueldt	....	pro-tools engineer
Martin Todsharow	....	music arranger
Martin Todsharow	....	music producer
Martin Todsharow	....	music supervisor
Martin Todsharow	....	orchestrator

Transportation Department
Darek Baluka	....	facilities captain
Trevor Bulak	....	driver: facilities, London
Markus Eberhardt	....	production driver
Moel El Bali	....	production driver
Terry Fitz	....	driver: minibus, London
George Grenier	....	driver: New York
Constanze Guttmann	....	driver: fashion unit
Murat Gökcen	....	production driver: preparation
Gerry Hamshar	....	driver: minibus, London
Chris Harvey	....	transportation captain: London
Terry Jones	....	unit driver: London
Mike S. Krigel	....	production driver
Matthias Lau	....	production driver
Glen Milton	....	unit driver: London (as Glenn Milton)
Ian Randall	....	swing driver: London, Eurodrive Worldwide
Peter Reith	....	driver: New York
John Ruffy	....	driver: minibus, London
Carl Russell	....	driver: New York
Frank Schlösser	....	transportation: art department, Talat Transporte
Steve Smith	....	driver: minibus, London
Simon Storey	....	driver: facilities, London
Mark Theewen	....	driver: props
Jörg Ulbrich	....	production driver
Kerrie Wilkinson	....	driver: minibus, London (as Kerry Wilkinson)
Terry Z.	....	driver: minibus, London
Philipp Reuter	....	production driver (uncredited)
Hrouchoff Svet	....	transport manager (uncredited)

Other crew
Ali Abid	....	consultant: Somali, London
Maan Youssouf Ahmed	....	production assistant: Djibouti
Adi Amit	....	production coordinator: New York
David Atlan-Kackson	....	financing agent: France, Backup Films
Jean-Baptiste Babib	....	financing agent: France, Backup Films
Alexander Barthel	....	sales: ARRI Film & TV
Dr. Bertram	....	veterinarian: Djibouti
Frank Beune	....	marketing: Majestic
Ivy Kagan Bierman	....	legal services: USA, Loeb & Loeb
Caro Biesenbach	....	making of/epk concept (as Carolin Biesenbach)
Anne Bolt	....	production trainee
Andreas Brey	....	interim financing: DZBank
Walter Brus	....	director of international sales: ARRI Film & TV
Charlotte Bushnell	....	floor runner: London (as Charlie Bushnell)
Kerstin Böck	....	unit publicist: Just Publicity
Jo Cameron Brown	....	dialogue coach
Jessica Cameron	....	floor runner: London
Nicolas Charret	....	representative: BAC Films
Valentina Coccia	....	production coordinator: London
Dana Corl	....	office assistant: New York
Florence Coudeyre	....	financial contributor: Backup Films
Véronique Crasset	....	representative: BAC Films
Aurore Cresson	....	representative: BAC Films
Alex De Souza	....	facility manager: Djibouti
André Deindörfer	....	set-al
Sekani Doram	....	floor runner: London
Annette Drees	....	script supervisor: New York
Patrick Eaton	....	set production assistant: New York
Scott Eaton	....	assistant production coordinator: London
Fardouza Moussa Egueh	....	coaching: nomad
Vera Engelhardt	....	assistant co- & line producer
Patricia Faulkner	....	unit nurse: London
Helga Fellermann	....	cashier: Djibouti Ville
Elisabeth Formann	....	set runner
Jonny Frankenberg	....	set production assistant: New York
Carlos Gerstenhauer	....	interviews: making of/wpk
Pit Gieler	....	caterer: fashion unit
Robin Green	....	production accountant: London
Pascal Guerrin	....	financial contributor: Backup Films
Guled Guled	....	on-set dialogue consultant
Taylor Haines	....	production trainee: London
Deborah Handelmann	....	legal services: USA, Loeb & Loeb
Marlus Harding	....	accountant: New York
Deborah Harpur	....	rights clearance
Emmett Harty Jr.	....	unit production assistant: New York (as Emmett Harty)
Awaleh Djibril Hassan	....	interpreter: Djibouti
Felix Herrmann	....	set runner: fashion unit
Jakob Herrschlein	....	caterer: fashion unit
Adrian Hubbard	....	production runner: London
Saïd Ali Ibrahim	....	salaries accountant: Djibouti
Thomas In Der Maur	....	legal services: Dor Film, Höhne, In Der Maur & Partner Reichtsanwalte
Sophie Juin	....	representative: BAC Films
Sascha Jung	....	legal services: Dor Film, Höhne, In Der Maur & Partner Reichtsanwalte
Paul Kahil	....	set production assistant: New York
Norbert Klingner	....	legal services
Heike Kresse	....	assistant to producer
Konstanze Krinzinger	....	production secretary: Dor Film
Tobi Kukla	....	location manager (as Tobias Kukla)
Jon Kussmaul	....	set production assistant: New York
Buzz Lace	....	caterer: London, J&J Catering
Helene Lenszner	....	location manager: London (as Helen Lenszner)
Frank Wayne Leßmöllmann	....	location manager (as Frank Lessmöllmann)
Michel Libermann	....	representative: BAC Films
Robert Lopez	....	key production assistant: New York (as Rob Lopez)
Richard Lormand	....	international press
Moukoula Houmed Mahade	....	cashier: Ali Sabieh, Djibouri
Heike Manzke	....	continuity
Ets Marill	....	handling agents & insurance broker
Thierry Marill	....	handling agents & insurance broker
Garry Marriott	....	medic: second unit
Garry Marriott	....	unit nurse: London (as Gary Marriott)
Daniela Masili	....	set runner
Amy McCombe	....	assistant location manager: Lonson
Frank Meter	....	location scout
André Meyer-Josten	....	additional set runner
Katharina Meyer-Josten	....	set-al assistant
Britta Meyermann	....	assistant: Benjamin Herrmann, Majestic Filmproduktion
Sylvia Montaldi	....	location manager: Djibouti
David Möhrle	....	floor manager: fashion unit
Camille Neel	....	representative: BAC Films
Alison Norod	....	set production assistant: New York (as Ali Norod)
Richard North	....	assistant production accountant: London
Kayad Saíd Nour	....	interpreter: Djibouti
Mahad Youssouf Obsieh	....	interpreter: Djibouti
Mathieu Piazza	....	representative: BAC Films
Marco Postrak	....	set-al assistant: Djibouti (as Marko Postrak)
Nicolas Prévöt	....	production coordinator: Djibouti
Abduraman Taled Ragueh	....	unit nurse: Djibouti
Gabie Reiter	....	accountant: Dor Film
Emory Reugg	....	production runner: London (as Emory Ruegg)
Soulem[íman Rirach	....	coaching: nomad
Souleíman Rirach	....	interpreter: Djibouti
Corran Royle	....	floor runner: London
Markus Röhle	....	gap financing: NRW Bank
Stephen L. Saltzman	....	legal services: USA, Loeb & Loeb
Stefan Schläwicke	....	production trainee
Alexandra Schlüter	....	marketing: Majestic
Mrtin Schneider	....	additional set runner
Petra Schwuchow	....	publicist: Limelight PR
Roald Seeliger	....	additional set runner
Olivier Sknin	....	financing agent: France, Backup Films
Oskar Sulowski	....	trainee
Thomas Taube	....	location: fashion unit
Joel Thibout	....	financing agent: France, Backup Films
Michael Tinney	....	production coordinator
Danny Voltron	....	set production assistant: New York
Friederike von Rauch	....	location scout (as Friederieke von Rauch)
Susanne Weißenbach	....	production accountant (as Susanne Weissenbach)
Edith Weßling	....	set-al (as Edith Wessling)
Marie Wildenhain	....	production secretary
Christopher Williams	....	assistant location manager: New York
Hughroy Williams	....	location manager: New York
Julia Winderlich	....	unit publicist: Just Publicity
Tina Wolf	....	production secretary
Emma Woodcock	....	location manager: UK
Christopher Yager	....	set production assistant: New York
Roland Zag	....	script consultant
Jean-Marc Zedde	....	representative: BAC Films
Sandra Zelmer	....	gap financing: NRW Bank
Martin Zwanzger	....	title designer
Corinne Le Hong	....	co-screenplay translator (uncredited)
Emilie Maison	....	press attache: France (uncredited)
Lynda Reynolds	....	catering chef: New York (uncredited)
Michael K. Reynolds	....	catering chef: New York (uncredited)

Thanks
Sarah Golding	....	thanks
Michael Schmid-Ospach	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Desert Flower Filmproductions
• Majestic Filmproduktion (co-production)
• MTM West Television & Film (co-production)
• Dor Film Produktionsgesellschaft (co-production)
• Desert Flower (co-production)
• ARD Degeto Film (co-production)
• Bac Films (co-production)
• Backup Films (in association with)
• BSI International Invest (co-production)
• Mr. Brown Entertainment
• Torus (post-production facility)

Distributors

• Virgil Films & Entertainment (2011) (USA) (all media)
• Bac Films (2010) (France) (theatrical)
• Cinéart (2010) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Espace Sarou (2010) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Filmladen (2009) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Majestic-Filmverleih (2008) (Germany) (theatrical)
• National Geographic Entertainment (2011) (USA) (theatrical)
• Showgate (2010) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Audio Visual Entertainment (2010) (Greece) (DVD) (blu-ray)
• Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR) (2008) (Germany) (TV)
• Film1 (2011) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Filmtrade (2009) (Greece) (all media)
• Future Film (2009) (Finland) (all media)
• Imovision (2010) (Brazil) (all media)
• Madman Entertainment (2010) (Australia) (all media)
• Prisvídeo - Edições Videográficas (2010) (Portugal) (all media)
• Twin Pics (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF) (2008) (Austria) (TV)

Special Effects

• CA Scanline Production (visual effects) (as Scanline)

Other Companies

• ARRI Film & TV Services  digital intermediate (as ARRI Film & TV)
• ARRI Rental  camera: electrical and grip equipment
• Amerifilm Casting  casting: small parts, New York
• Arri Group  camera equipment: New York
• Audiolink Radio Communications  walkie talkies
• Bernd Rillich Postproduktion  avid editing facility
• CSC  camera equipment: New York
• Chamäleon Service Film-ind Theaterbauten  construction service company
• DZBank  interim financing
• De Lane Lea  adr stage
• Desert Flower UK  production services: London
• Dolphin Film Productions Ltd.  production services: Djibouti (as Dolphin Filmproduction)
• Eisbach Studios  location: fashion unit
• Eurodrive Worldwide  swing drivers: London
• Film & Television Facilities  facility vehicles
• FilmFernsehFonds Bayern  funding
• Filmfonds Wien  funding
• Filmförderungsanstalt (FFA)  funding
• Filmstiftung Nordrhein-Westfalen  funding
• Framepool  stock footage
• Höhne, In Der Maur & Partner Reichtsanwalte  legal services: Dor Film
• J&J Catering  catering: London
• Just Publicity  unit publicity
• Kaufman Astoria Studios  electrical and grip equipment: New York
• Kodak  film stock
• Limelight PR  publicity
• Loeb & Loeb  legal services: USA
• Lucky Strike London  production services: London
• Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg  funding
• NRW Bank  gap financing
• Real Life Casting  extras casting: fashion unit
• Schenk Productions  production services: New York
• Sparks Filmtechnik GmbH  electric and grip equipment: Munich
• Talat Transporte  transportation: art department
• Teldex Studio Berlin  score mixing facility
• The Casting Network  extras casting: UK
• Torus SoundPostProduction  sound stage
• Videolink  video operator: fashion unit
• Österreichisches Filminstitut  funding

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for some violent content, a scene of sexuality and language

Runtime:

USA:120 min | Germany:120 min

Country:

UK | Germany | Austria

Language:

English | Somali | French

Color:

Color | Color (35 mm version)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Finland:K-15 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Austria:12 | Germany:12 | Netherlands:12 | UK:15 | South Korea:15 | Portugal:M/12 | USA:R (certificate #46278) | Australia:MA (2010) | Japan:PG12 | Singapore:M18

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Company:

Desert Flower Filmproductions

Trivia:

The real Waris Dirie had a small role in the James Bond film The Living Daylights.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Lucinda (from the modeling agency) says to Waris she would be without broadband in Africa. Broadband didn't exist in the early to mid 80s when this story took place.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Movie Friends: Prashant Prabhakar (2013)

Soundtrack:

Let's Stick Together

Overcoming Obstacles

DESERT FLOWER is a very powerful film that introduces many viewers to the atrocities of Female Genital Mutilation, defined by the dictionary as 'FGM, also known as female genital cutting and female circumcision, is defined as all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non- medical reasons. FGM is typically carried out on girls from a few days old to puberty. It may take place in a hospital, but is usually performed, without anesthesia, by a traditional circumciser using a knife, razor, or scissors.' Though that is not the main driver of this story it certainly makes the life of Waris Dirie who wrote this autobiography recognized as someone who overcame insurmountable odds to become one the world's top models and a speaker for women's rights.

Liya Kebede stars as Waris Darie and is the perfect choice of an actress to fill this role: she is an International supermodel, actress and philanthropist, born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In 2003, she was the first woman of color to become the face of Estée Lauder cosmetics.

Waris Dirie (Liya Kebede) was born in Somalia and was subjected to FGM and fled across the desert to freedom form the heinous attitude toward women (Waris as a child is beautifully portrayed by Soraya Omar-Scego). She struggles though dreary jobs, eventually hooks up with Marilyn (Sally Hawkins0 who introduces her to the world of fashion via Terry Donaldson (Timothy Spall), learns how to dress and walk in heels and eventually becomes the great model we know us as today. She has love interests (Anthony Mackie) but her aim is to gain enough credibility and money to go before the WHO and speak against the mutilation that exists in many countries to this day.

Directed by Sherry Horman who adapted Dirie's autobiography for the screen with Smita Bhide, the visuals are spectacular and the manner in which the story is related is full of passion and compassion. The entire cast (including Juliet Stevenson, Meera Syal, and Craig Parkinson) is pitch perfect. But it is Liya Kebede who fills the screen not only with her beauty but also with a powerful performance of the main character. A very fine film with a heavy message.

Grady Harp