The President's Cake

Nine-year-old impoverished student Lamia is required by her teacher to make a birthday cake to celebrate Saddam Hussein. Leaving behind her grandmother but taking along her pet rooster, she sets out on an impossible task.

The backdrop to "The President's Cake" is a village in a country where severe restrictions and sanctions have been imposed by a dictatorship. This turns out to be a perfect recipe for depicting the hardship and tumult of life in strict and oppressive circumstances. The action is fast-paced and dangerous, complete with rickety carts and squawking animals in dusty streets. An inexperienced cast delivers remarkable and natural performances. Taking the point of view of a determined child and a rooster on an all but senseless mission sweetens the mix and proves deeply affecting. Let them bake cake.

Limited Release 22nd February 2026
Rialto Distribution 105 mins