Synopsis
Like in a fairy tale, Somalian-born Waris Dirie became one of the world's most sought-after top models. Born into a family of goat-herding nomads, Waris' fascinating path would take her from the Northeast African deserts to the world's most prestigious fashion runways and magazines. At 13, Waris fled forced marriage and crossed days of desert alone before reaching the Somali capital Mogadishu. Relatives soon shipped her off to London to work as a servant in the Somali embassy, where she spent the rest of her adolescent years in illiteracy. When faced with the threat of returning to war-torn Somalia, Waris finds herself homeless and illegal. Spunky shop girl Marilyn takes Waris in and becomes a trusted friend. While working in a fast food restaurant, Waris is discovered by star photographer Terry Donaldson, and ambitious agent Lucinda guides her transformation into a working model. But behind the glamorous façade of Waris' new life lies a deeply heart-stirring fate. Despite her success, Waris remains burdened by a violent childhood secret. At the height of her career, Waris reveals to the world that she was a victim of female genital mutilation. Her story unleashes a wave of sympathy and controversy, and Waris decides to dedicate her life to fighting this barbaric tradition.
Metrics
| Opening Weekend: | $7,657 (17.3% of total gross) |
| Legs: | 4.19 (domestic box office/biggest weekend) |
| Domestic Share: | 0.2% (domestic box office/worldwide) |
| Theater counts: | 3 opening theaters/8 max. theaters, 3.0 weeks average run per theater |
| Infl. Adj. Dom. BO | $60,282 |
Latest Ranking on Cumulative Box Office Lists
| Record | Rank | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| All Time Domestic Box Office (Rank 14,301-14,400) | 14,365 | $44,348 |
| All Time International Box Office (Rank 3,701-3,800) | 3,716 | $18,360,936 |
| All Time Worldwide Box Office (Rank 5,701-5,800) | 5,794 | $18,405,284 |
| All Time Domestic Highest Grossing Limited Release Movies (Rank 5,901-6,000) | 5,923 | $44,348 |
| All Time Domestic Box Office for R Movies (Rank 4,901-5,000) | 4,943 | $44,348 |
| All Time International Box Office for R Movies (Rank 901-1,000) | 984 | $18,360,936 |
| All Time Worldwide Box Office for R Movies (Rank 1,801-1,900) | 1,821 | $18,405,284 |
See the Box Office tab (Domestic) and International tab (International and Worldwide) for more Cumulative Box Office Records.
Movie Details
| Domestic Releases: | March 18th, 2011 (Limited) by National Geographic Entertainment |
| MPAA Rating: | R for some violent content, a scene of sexuality and language. (Rating bulletin 2131, 7/28/2010) |
| Running Time: | 124 minutes |
| Comparisons: | vs. The Ramen Girl Create your own comparison chart… |
| Keywords: | Biography, Sex Crimes, Fashion, Religious |
| Source: | Based on Factual Book/Article |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Production Method: | Live Action |
| Creative Type: | Dramatization |
| Production/Financing Companies: | Desert Flower Filmproductions, Dor Film, Majestic Filmproduktion, BSI Intl. Invest, Bac Films, Mr. Brown Entertainment, MTM West Film & Television, Bayerischer Rundfunk, Backup Films |
| Production Countries: | Australia, Germany, United Kingdom |
| Languages: | English, Somali |