Desert Flower (2009)

Waris Dirie, born 1965 in Somalia, flees at 13 when sold as 4th wife. She's maid at the Somalian embassy in London, then McDonald's, where she's discovered and becomes int'l top model. 1997, she speaks up against female genital mutilation.

Director:

Sherry Hormann

Writers:

Waris Dirie (novel), Sherry Hormann

Stars:

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

3 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:

immigrant | modeling | photo shoot | rape | homelessness | 

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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 [Germany] Official site [Japan]

Country:

UK Germany Austria France

Language:

English Somali French

Release Date:

24 September 2009 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Desert Flower

Filming Locations:

Germany

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,657, 20 March 2011

Gross USA:

$44,348

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$14,631,377

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

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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

How can we stop this?

The true story of Waris Dirie, a Somalia girl from a desert region and promised to a miserable local life, who fled to England and eventually became a top model. But the real story, the one that begins the day that changed her life, is another one. Hard and repulsive story, heir of a Somali tradition of 3000 years. A strong and true message, which calls for our humanity. Superb interpretation. Simple direction, valuing the natural interpretation, and decorated with a lot of beautiful film views. Another important point of the message is this distinction between the Somalia tradition and the Coran recommendations. See and support absolutely.