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Desert Flower

Desert Flower

Drama · 2009

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.

Movie details

Desert Flower

“The extraordinary true story of the woman who crossed the desert and changed the world.”

2009 Drama 2h 0m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.6 / 10

Community rating

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.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Desert Flower?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Amina

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In 16th-century Zazzau, now Zaria, Nigeria, Amina must utilize her military skills and tactics to defend her family's kingdom. Based on a true story.

The Pirates of Somalia

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After an inspiring chance encounter with his idol, rookie journalist Jay Bahadur uproots his life and moves to Somalia looking for the story of a lifetime. Hooking up with a local fixer, he attempts to get embedded with the local Somali pirates, only to quickly find himself in over his head.

Gorillas in the Mist

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Hotel Rwanda

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The Birth of a Nation

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Sherry Hormann

Liya Kebede

Liya Kebede

Waris Dirie

Sally Hawkins

Sally Hawkins

Marylin

Craig Parkinson

Craig Parkinson

Neil

Meera Syal

Meera Syal

Pushpa Patel

Anthony Mackie

Anthony Mackie

Harold Jackson

Juliet Stevenson

Juliet Stevenson

Lucinda

Timothy Spall

Timothy Spall

Terry Donaldson

Court is in session

Put Desert Flower on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.