The President’s Cake

In 1990s Iraq, under Saddam Hussein’s regime, nine-year-old Lamia lives with her ailing grandmother in a remote village. With Hussein’s birthday approaching, Lamia is tasked with bringing a cake to her class... But the girl and her grandmother find themselves unable to afford the ingredients. Facing the possibility of prison or even death, Lamia must rely on her imagination. In his debut feature, Hasan Hadi crafts a moving moral fable that portrays an entire country.