The President's Cake
dir. Hasan Hadi · 2026
The struggle to maintain personal freedom in the face of oppressive expectations reveals the resilience of the human spirit.
Lamia's name is called in a classroom filled with dread, marking her as the chosen one to bring the president's cake to a mandatory celebration. As she grapples with the weight of this honor, the film immerses viewers in the stark realities of childhood under a repressive regime. Watching it feels like a slow, poignant walk through a landscape where innocence collides with the harshness of political expectations, leaving a lingering sense of melancholy.
It's "draw day" across Iraq, when schools select students for the honour of bringing items to their mandatory local celebrations of President Saddam Hussein's birthday. Nine-year-old Lamia lives in the historic marshes with her spirited grandmother, Bibi. Before school, Bibi teaches Lamia clever tricks to avoid being chosen for the president's cake. However, when Musa, the authoritative teacher, calls Lamia's name for the most challenging task--the birthday cake--she has no choice but to accept. Refusing could mean imprisonment or even death.
Talking points
- the impact of authoritarianism on youth
- the role of family in oppressive societies
- the intersection of tradition and modernity
- the psychological effects of fear on children
