Cinema Society

DESERT FLOWER

Average
Rating

3.5

Thursday, March 10, 2011, Landmark La Jolla Village Cinemas

Invited Guest: Shirley Horman, Director

THURSDAY, MARCH 10

4:30PM or 7:30pm (You Pick, but please note earlier first show time!)

DESERT FLOWER

Discussion with filmmaker Sherry Horman will follow both screenings

Landmark La Jolla Village Cinemas

Special Thursday Night and Special First Show Time of 4:30pm!

Audience Choice Award, 2011 Palm Springs International Film Festival

DESERT FLOWER

DESERT FLOWER is a beautifully shot biopic of the life of Waris Dirie, a Somali shepherd’s daughter who went on to become a top supermodel before using her highly visible platform to speak out against female circumcision in Africa. Filmmaker Sherry Horman’s stirring drama benefits from the casting of Ethiopian supermodel Liya Kebede in the lead.

Rated R for some violent content, a scene of sexuality and language.

Running Time: 124 Minutes

PLEASE NOTE: This event takes place on a Thursday.

ALSO PLEASE NOTE: Given the running time of the film, and the visit by filmmaker Sherry Horman, we are starting the first show at a special time—4:30pm-- while the second show begins at our normal 7:30pm.

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12-Mar-11: jh - Rating: 4

DESERT FLOWER worked well as a biopic without a cause, but to seamlessly work her cause into the story as Ms. Horman did was a triumph. Liya Kebede was mesmerizing in the lead and Sally Hawkins was her perfect foil. Juliet Stevenson was delightful as the modeling agency boss. Dirie's speech at the UN was evocative of King Geroge VI's as to its dramatic implications.

11-Mar-11: Mroe - Rating: 3

As entertaining (when appropriate) that this film was, the facts and figures about how often this horrible process happens (particularly in this country) was difficult to comprehend.

I did think there were some weaknesses in the film from a continuity and film making stand point, however, the message this story/film tells far outweighs its imperfections. Oh, and great cast....Sally Hawkins (just saw her in "Jane Eyre", loved her in "Happy-Go-Lucky"), Juliet Stevenson (mom in "Bend it Like Beckham") and Anthony Mackie ( just saw him in "The Adjustment Bureau"). Pretty impressive cast for Sherry Horman's first fairly "mainstream" feature film....again I need that 1/2 point. It's a 3.5