Desert Flower
Seen it?2009 | 127 min | Drama
Weeknight WatchWhy it’s a Weeknight Watch
With middling reviews (50% on Rotten Tomatoes) and soft box office, it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who loves a strong drama. If you loved The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind or Hotel Rwanda, start here.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 7 min.
- What might put you off
- Nothing much for most grown-ups.
The autobiography of a Somalian nomad who was 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.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsBelow par
50% on Rotten Tomatoes, 54 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.6 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$15 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 172K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Sherry Hormann
- Liya KebedeWaris Dirie
- Sally HawkinsMarylin
- Craig ParkinsonNeil
- Meera SyalPushpa Patel
- Anthony MackieHarold Jackson
- Juliet StevensonLucinda
- Timothy SpallTerry Donaldson
- Lucrezia PhantaziaGirl in Boardinghouse
- Soraya Omar-ScegoYoung Waris
- Anna HilgedieckGirl in Shower