1990. Iraq. Young Lamia was selected by her teacher to prepare a cake in honour of President Saddam Hussein’s birthday. It is a yearly tradition enforced on students by their teachers, as well as on the Iraqi people by their national government. Disobedience can lead to punishment.
Living in poverty, Lamia sets out on a trip to the city in hopes of securing the ingredients for her cake, even if it means making unexpected sacrifices.
“The President’s Cake” is writer-director Hasam Hadi’s first full-length film. He reflects on living as a child in Iraq, where, more than corruption, authoritarianism has become a norm. For children like Lamia, living amidst war and challenges wasn’t only part of the struggle; it was the only reality they knew.
Hadi presents his period in extensive detail. Posters with Hussein’s face are in almost every street shot, down to the massive set design depicting the ‘90s. It is quite impressive, considering the tight production budget and the looming threat in present-day Iraq. At certain points, it felt like watching a documentary filmed at the time.
“The President’s Cake” is mainly a children’s film, despite the stakes of the setting. Lamia’s journey to getting cake ingredients mirrors her self-discovery, and in a Disney-like decision, she carries her pet rooster Hindi along the way. The rooster is at the center of surprisingly hefty amounts of comedic bits in the film.
Baneen Ahmed Nayyef is memorable as Lamia, whose commanding and tender performance is easily one of the best child performances you’ll see this year. It’s impossible not to root for her in getting that sack of flour more than anything.
“The President’s Cake” is currently showing in New Zealand cinemas, and with ongoing global challenges, it is a necessary viewing. It’s a big shame the Academy Awards snubbed this film in the International Feature category this year. It easily beats out some of the contenders.
Featured photos from Rialto Distribution.
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