Remind me about this event
1990s. International sanctions against Iraq have resulted in soaring prices, food shortages and hardship for most citizens. Despite this, President Saddam Hussein declares that every Iraqi must mark his birthday with a cake.
Despite her efforts to avoid getting picked, 9-year-old Lamia is selected in a lottery at school for the “honour” of making the cake. The young girl must now use her wits and imagination to gather ingredients and prepare the mandatory cake and must travel to the city to source the precious ingredients.
Written & Directed by: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmed Nayyef, Waheeda Thabet, and Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Language: In Arabic with English subtitles
"The President’s Cake is a fiercely powerful work of cinema. By framing the corruption and poverty of Hussein’s oppressive reign through the lens of a childhood adventure, Hadi creates something that is as whimsical as it is devastating."- The Upcoming
"An exceptional screen debut." - The Hollywood Reporter
"Poetic and honest." - Next Best Picture
