Desert Flower

'Desert Flower' is a film about one women's struggles and fight against gender equality.It's based on a true story about the supermodel Waris Dirie.

We watched Desert Flower in religion class after studying the eight millennium develop goals.One of the millennium goals we studied was gender equality so both men and women in all societies are equal. For more information about the millennium goals please check out this website.

Here's a quick insight into the film, I won't spoil everything for you though, as it really is a touching and interesting film I would recommend others to watch. 

The film 'Desert Flower' begins in Somalia where Waris Dirie was born. We see Waris as a beautiful girl taking care of the animals and separated from the men in the family. One thing our class noticed was at meal times the men and women are shown to eat separately. 

Waris's family do not have much money and are planning on selling Waris to a very old man in exchange for camels. Waris runs away just before this happens to Mogadishu where her mother has family and then on to London.

Waris faces many stuggles thoughout her journey. We see Waris being treated poorly due to her gender. 

When she is abandoned in London she becomes homeless for many years and is unable to speak English until she meets a girl about the same age as her, who is an aspiring ballet dancing faces on-going rejection.

The girls begin to become close friends and live together in a small hostel room. Waris gets a job cleaning and begins to learn English very quickly. 

Waris as a young girl in Somalia received a procedure called genital mutilation. This happened young girls in Somalia so Waris think's it is normal, until her close friend shows her it is not.

Due to more gender discrimination Waris refuses to get help from a doctor at first. During this time is spotted by one if the biggest photographers in England and with the help of her good friend she begins to model and become more comfortable in her body.

Waris goes though many problems throughout her life. She has to marry a man just to stay living in London, she then tries to follow her heart but realizes it is too late.

Waris becomes one of the worlds best known super models and is living in New York. Often she is asked to give talks on her life, on her 'story' about how she ran away from Somalia and how she went back to find her mother.

Waris know's this is not the story she needs to share though. She finally begins to talk about genital mutilation  and how is has effected her life so hugely. 

The heart filling film ends on a sad but reassuring note. Although there is so much wrong happening, there are people, like Waris Dirie, who can make huge change.

This film shows huge amounts of courage and bravery though Waris. She spends half her life afraid, thinking she is wrong, thinking it was okay for men to change her body. Waris, telling her true story through public speaking and the movie 'Desert Flower' is an up most inprisation to everyone who has a story to tell that can make a change.