Desert Flower (film)

Desert Flower is a 2009 German biographical film directed by Sherry Hormann. It stars Liya Kebede, Sally Hawkins and Craig Parkinson, and is based on the Somali-born model Waris Dirie's autobiography.

Plot
The film follows the journey of Waris Dirie (played by Liya Kebede) from a nomadic pastoralist background in Somalia to a new life and career in the West as a fashion model and activist against female genital mutilation.

Cast

 * Liya Kebede as Waris Dirie
 * Sally Hawkins as Marylin
 * Craig Parkinson as Neil
 * Meera Syal as Pushpa Patel
 * Anthony Mackie as Harold Jackson
 * Juliet Stevenson as Lucinda
 * Timothy Spall as Terry Donaldson
 * Soraya Omar-Scego as Waris aged 12
 * Teresa Churcher as Nurse Anne
 * Eckart Friz as Spike
 * Prashant Prabhakar as Kami
 * Anna Hilgedieck as Tilda
 * Matt Kaufman as Burger Bar Manager
 * Emma Kay as Immigration officer
 * Elli as European Man
 * Nick Raio as Truck Driver
 * Robert Robalino as Cafe owner
 * Chris Wilson as Embassy Official
 * Safa Idriss Nour as Little Waris

Production
Asked about the scene where Waris Dirie really struggles with a nude photo shoot, Liya Kebede said, "Being nude really is a problem for me, so it was actually the easiest scene for me to shoot. I definitely identified with how she was feeling."

Awards

 * Festival de San Sebastián 2009

Related links
Our goals: Waris Dirie Manifesto, desertflowerfoundation.org