The movie Desert Flower is based on the true story of Waris Dirie, a Somalian woman who was born into a nomadic family in the mid-1960s. When Waris was around 5 or 6 years old, her family settled in a small village where her father worked as a laborer and her mother tended to the household and livestock.
When Waris was 13 years old, her parents sold her into marriage to a man in his 60s. Waris ran away from her new husband's house and walked hundreds of miles across the desert to reach her grandmother's home in Mogadishu.
Years later, Waris was discovered by a photographer and became a successful fashion model in London. She used her platform to bring attention to the issue of female genital mutilation (FGM), a practice that she had been subjected to as a child. Waris began to speak out about FGM and worked with the United Nations to advocate for its eradication.
The movie chronicles Waris's life, from her nomadic childhood to her modeling career and advocacy work. It shows the traumatic effects of FGM on girls and women, as well as the societal and cultural norms that support its continuation. The film also portrays the resilience and strength of women who fight against injustice and oppression.
Desert Flower stars Liya Kebede as Waris Dirie, and is directed by Sherry Hormann. It was released in 2009 and received mostly positive reviews.