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As in a fairy tale, Waris Dirie became one of the most sought after supermodels of the time . Born in Somalia between nomadic shepherds, traveled a fascinating journey that took him from the deserts of northeastern Africa to gateways and most prestigious journals.

At 13 he fled from a marriage of convenience and one crossed the desert before arriving in Mogadishu, capital of Somalia. There, his parents sent her to work as a servant to his country's embassy in London, where he was a teenager unable to read or write. Before returning to a country ravaged by war, chose to remain illegally in London. Marilyn, a clerk with character, hosted, and the two became close friends.

While working in a fast food restaurant, was discovered by famed photographer Terry Donaldson. Lucinda agent oversaw the ambitious transformation model. But behind the shiny facade of the new life of Waris lay a moving target. Despite the success, Waris could not shake the weight of a terrible secret. At the peak of his career, publicly revealed that he had suffered ablation. His story sparked a wave of sympathy and controversy, so he decided to devote the rest of his life to fight this inhuman tradition.

His story touched millions of people. The book by Waris Dirie, Desert Flower, which has the journey of a young nomad Africa to become an international supermodel, became a worldwide bestseller with more than eleven million copies sold. This is the story of an extraordinary woman, proud and brave.

The director and writer Sherry Hormann and the Oscar-winning producer Peter Herrmann (Nowhere in Africa) have adapted the autobiography of Waris Dirie for the big screen. It's a modern fairy tale, straddling the sparkling glamor and archaic rituals, full of vitality, emotions and compassion. But it is a heartbreaking cry against the terrible and inhumane tradition of female genital mutilation.

The top model and actress Liya Kebede is impeccable in the title role. The big players accompany the likes of Sally Hawkins (A Lucky), winner of the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the Berlin Film Festival and a Golden Globe, Timothy Spall (Harry Potter, Secrets and Lies) Craig Parkinson (Control), Juliet Stevenson (Bend It Like Beckham), Anthony Mackie (8 Mile) and Meera Syal (Scoop).