Desert Flower (2009)

The autobiography of a Somalian nomad circumcised at 3, sold in marriage at 13, fled from Africa a while later to become finally an American supermodel and is now at the age of 38, the UN ... See full summary »

Director:

Sherry Hormann

Writers:

Smita Bhide (script revisions), Waris Dirie (novel)

Stars:

Soraya Omar-Scego, Idriss Abdillahi Houfaneh, Awa Saïd Darar

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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	...	Marilyn
Meera Syal	...	Pushpa Patel
Anna Hilgedieck	...	Girl in Shower
Lucrezia Phantazia	...	Girl in Boardinghouse
Craig Parkinson	...	Neil
Matthew Alexander Kaufman	...	Fastfood Manager (as Matt Kaufman)
Timothy Spall	...	Terry Donaldson
Prashant Prabhakar	...	Kami
Anthony Mackie	...	Harold Jackson

Storyline

The autobiography of a Somalian nomad circumcised at 3, sold in marriage at 13, fled from Africa a while later to become finally an American supermodel and is now at the age of 38, the UN spokeswoman against female genital mutilation (FGM).

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Plot Keywords:

f rated | immigrant | modeling | photo shoot | rape | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [France]

Country:

UK Germany Austria France

Language:

English Somali French

Release Date:

24 September 2009 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Fleur du désert

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,657, 20 March 2011, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$44,348, 1 May 2011

Company Credits

Production Co:

Desert Flower Filmproductions,Majestic Filmproduktion,MTM West Television & Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color Color (35 mm version)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The first project of the Waris Dirie Foundation, now called the Desert Flower Foundation, was preventing Safa, the small girl in the fgm scene from becoming a real life victim of this cruel ritual. The sponsorship program they developed was so successful that it quickly expanded and now saves hundreds of children each year.

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Goofs

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.

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Connections

Referenced in RTL Boulevard: Episode #11.70 (2010)

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Soundtracks

Without You (Glenn Morrison Remix)
Music by Craig Armstrong and Scott Fraser
Vocals by Lucy Pullin
French spoken words by Laurence Ashley
Remix and additional production by Glenn Morrison and Byron Wong
© by Chester Music Ltd. by the courtesy of Bosworth Music GmbH, Berlin

User Reviews

moved to tears & deep compassion

My mother kept insisting that I watch this movie but I avoided it because of the subject matter. Even in the hospital, the week before she died, she asked, "Did you see DESERT FLOWER yet? You will like it." She died last week on the Eve of Easter and last night I decided to watch it before it deleted from my DVR. I was completely enthralled and every scene drew me in moving me to a deep compassion for these mutilated women. The London fashion model scenes were a pleasant comic respite from the atrocities and it was interesting to see how Waris integrated these two worlds. Although the film has some loose ends and flaws, nothing will make you appreciate your life as a free woman until you see this film. At the very least, you might be inspired to never complain about such trivial matters as the economy, not having a boyfriend or husband or how badly you thought you were treated as a child. At the best, you will be inspired to use the fire in your life to help those who suffer needlessly in the world.