Iraqi filmmaker Hasan Hadi's debut feature 'The President's Cake' screened at last week's Saudi Film Festival, drawing both sobs and laughter from the audience. Set in the Iraq of Hadi's childhood under Saddam Hussein's regime, the film documents the emotional and practical costs borne by Iraqis during and after the first Gulf War.
Plot and Characters
Nine-year-old orphan Lamia, played by newcomer Baneen Ahmed Nayyef, lives with her grandmother Bibi (Waheed Thabet Khreibat) and her pet cockerel Hindi in the countryside. Money is scarce. Lamia's third-grade teacher announces that, ahead of the president's birthday, students will be randomly selected to either clean the school, bring fruit, provide juice, or bake a cake — the most prestigious task. The unspoken consequences of failure, including being reported, could be catastrophic for their families.
When Lamia is chosen as baker, she must comply despite the difficulty of obtaining ingredients. Along with Bibi and Hindi, she journeys to the nearest city to secure supplies. Feeling betrayed by Bibi, Lamia runs away and decides to complete the task alone. She soon meets her friend Saeed, who was assigned to bring fruit, and together they navigate a dangerous path overshadowed by Saddam's ubiquitous portraits.
Visuals and Performances
Visually, 'The President's Cake' is stunning. Memorable scenes include Lamia quietly rowing her boat over serene waters as missiles crackle overhead. Strong performances, particularly from Nayyef and Khreibat, make the film convincing. The film concludes with footage of Saddam's actual 50th birthday cake, a lavish affair enjoyed while citizens starved — a sobering end to Hadi's poetic masterpiece.
