Directed by:
Sherry HormannScreenplay:
Sherry HormannCinematography:
Ken KelschComposer:
Martin TodsharowCast:
Liya Kebede, Sally Hawkins, Meera Syal, Lucrezia Phantazia, Craig Parkinson, Timothy Spall, Prashant Prabhakar, Anthony Mackie, Tim Seyfi, Teresa Churcher (more)Plots(1)
Like in a fairy tale, Somalian-born Waris Dirie became one of the world’s most sought-after top models. Born into a family of goat-herding nomads, Waris’ fascinating path would take her from the Northeast African deserts to the world’s most prestigious fashion runways and magazines. At 13, Waris fl ed forced marriage and crossed days of desert alone before reaching the Somali capital Mogadishu. Relatives soon shipped her off to London to work as a servant in the Somali embassy, where she spent the rest of her adolescent years in illiteracy. When faced with the threat of returning to war-torn Somalia, Waris finds herself homeless and illegal. Spunky shopgirl Marilyn takes Waris in and becomes a trusted friend. While working in a fast food restaurant, Waris is discovered by star photographer Terry Donaldson, and ambitious agent Lucinda guides her transformation into a working model. But behind the glamorous facade of Waris’ new life lies a deeply heart-stirring fate. Despit her success, Waris remains burdened by a violent childhood secret. At the height of her career, Waris reveals to the world that she was a victim of female genital mutilation. Her story unleashes a wave of sympathy and controversy, and Waris decides to dedicate her life to fi ghting this barbaric tradition. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Reviews (5)
It’s the kind of biopic that you have to see because it is about the life around us compared to the life in Africa. Obviously, the authors didn’t disappoint and all the way from casting to the screenplay they put everything they had into the craft of cinematography. An interesting story about a very interesting personality of contemporary world.
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A story that is huge and scary and, unfortunately, true. I'm a fan of this film, mostly because it reveals a different slice of reality. I admire Waris Dirie endlessly and can't imagine the pain she must have gone through. A lot of emotion, pain, and fear came out of the film. Still, I think a story like this might have deserved better execution.
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I do not share the enthusiastic reception of the film, which is influenced both by the undeniable charm of Liya Kebede and by the sentimental story of how a poor girl from distant Somalia found happiness. In my opinion, the film lacks depth and an attempt to comprehensively examine the problems of third-world poverty and female genital mutilation. It allows the viewer to be shocked by the contrast between life in the drought-affected area of Africa and the consumerist gluttony of London, as well as the suffering of a girl forced to undergo female genital mutilation at a young age. However, it is all diluted by the fact that the rise of the heroine is made possible by the advertising and fashion industry, which are symbols of consumerism themselves. Of course, such a rise is only possible for a few chosen ones, and while the viewer is comforted by the happy ending, it does not change the fate of millions of other girls who do not have the necessary appearance. And I'm not even talking about the problem of female genital mutilation, because the film has no chance of influencing public opinion in countries where it is practiced. It lacks a deeper look into the problem, and it does not address any major drama or dilemmas. It only sponges on the mentioned problems and I consider it to be a certain kind of kitsch. Overall impression: 35%.
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The film has such an interesting story, written by life itself, that it simply stands on its own. Fortunately, the acting is also very well done, so they managed to create something that has substance, and the necessary strong emotions are conveyed well. The romance here felt a bit unnecessary to me, but thankfully, it appears in small measure. This is very good.
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I haven't read the book, but after seeing Desert Flower I'd like to remedy that because I liked it so much. While I don't usually admire models, Waris Dirie is probably the exception that proves the rule. Even though she probably isn't suffering much nowadays, she likely endured a lot during her childhood and adolescence, not only in relation to female genital mutilation. Besides the touching story written by life itself, I was also impressed by the performances of Liya Kebede and Sally Hawkins. Both of them played their roles perfectly. (85%)
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