Film Review – The President's Cake (2025)

      The President’s Cake, 2025.

      Written and Directed by Hasan Hadi.

      Featuring Banin Ahmad Nayef, Sajad Mohamad Qasem Waheed, Thabet Khreibat, Rahim AlHaj, Muthanna Malaghi, Ahmad Qasem Saywan, Thaer Salem, Fatima Abouharoon, Mohammed Rheimeh, Rokia Alwadi, Abdelkarim Jasim, Maytham Mreidi, and Nadia Rashak.

      SYNOPSIS:

      Set in 1990s Iraq, nine-year-old Lamia is tasked with baking a birthday cake for Saddam Hussein. She races against time to gather the necessary ingredients for this obligatory task, knowing she faces punishment if she fails.

      The film, reminiscent of a lost work by a Safdie brother, follows young Lamia (Baneen Ahmad Nayyef) as she is compelled by her school to venture through her town in search of cake ingredients for the president’s celebration, which gives the film its title, The President’s Cake. It’s crucial to note the oppressive nature of the dictatorship, where noncompliance can lead to severe consequences. This creates a stark contrast between the innocent child navigating her town and the sight of indoctrinated citizens parading and pledging their allegiance to Saddam Hussein.

      "Draw Day," as it's referred to, creates a highly stressful atmosphere, prompting Lamia's ailing grandmother Bibi (Waheed Thabet Khreibat) to pawn her own limited resources for the chance to rid her granddaughter of this heavy burden. This unexpected act of abandonment leaves Lamia bewildered, leading her to reject the new family and continue her quest for sugar, eggs, and other cake ingredients.

      Fortunately, she encounters her classmate Saeed (Sajad Mohamad Qasem), who has been assigned to gather fruit for the celebration. Together, they support each other in their hunt for ingredients which are hard to find given the circumstances in Iraq. Many of the characters they meet along the way, while possessing what Lamia and Saeed need, are dubious, turning their journey into a complex and increasingly perilous quest. Compounding their challenges are the bombs falling in the vicinity.

      Meanwhile, a sickly and fragile Bibi works with an indifferent police force to locate Lamia. While the situation appears chaotic for Lamia, who is accompanied by her rooster, the film presents a more nuanced experience; there’s real danger, but the primary focus is on the growing bond between her and Saeed. Both children are determined to fulfill their obligation for a president they don’t fully recognize as a cruel dictator responsible for much of Iraq’s turmoil. This isn’t merely a coming-of-age narrative, but rather an awakening to the harsh realities of their homeland. The President’s Cake balances sweetness, tension, and tragedy.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★

      Robert Kojder