We were in Iraq in 1990. With severe international sanctions on the country causing food and medicine to disappear and prices disappearing, and with North American forces constantly crossing the skies, President Saddam Hussein is determined to ensure that his countrymen celebrate their momentous anniversary. For little Lamia (Baneen Ahmad Nayyef) who lives with her abuela (Waheed Thabet Khreibat) around the sea, walking without lightthe tyrant’s desire causes an important change in his life
In a school full of ultra-nationalism and an extreme cult, the leader shares disturbing reminiscences of extreme survival films like Hambre games, Lamia is tasked with preparing the president’s dinner, low punishment of severe punishments, if not cumple s his comtoto. In fact, without even returning, the child and the child go to the city to get the necessary ingredients: sugar, sugar, lemon and hare.
At least I think that Lamia, because the one who demands abuela is to leave her on the load dueña in the restaurant because she is very sick. However, the little girl who thinks it’s because of the complications caused by the cake because she wants to crush it, it will leak and you will have to reassemble the ingredientsthus beginning the difficult path of initiation.
Awarded with Cámara de Oro from the Cannes Film Festivalwhich rewards the best work in front of all sections, President’s cake It is the first film of director Hasan Hadi, who lived as a child in Iraq during the years when he made the film, although today he ended up in New York. However, the filmmaker wanted to shoot in his native country with local techniques and achieved the film in shortlist Oscars for an international film, something Iraqi cinema has never achieved.
During the main part of the film, we follow Lamia, who, in the company of her friend Saeed (Sajad Mohamad Qasem), who asked her to raise the fruit to recall the splendor of Saddam Hussein – whose face is constantly present through downloads and TV appearances – and her unexpected scenes of the Hindi rooster – so you will have to get all kinds of ingredients, from good hearted people to true villains.
The proposal avoids social drama in the tradition of Italian neorealismif it brings a lot of news and if the scene on the stage is realistic, the film gives the impression of a well-intentioned Western view of the reality of Iraq that has passed.
Lamia’s adventure also haunts her non-grayscale figures and demasiado corresponding to the victimwhile he could touch the fiber of the viewer. This effort, in which it is the most effective – including all stages – in terms of success at festivals and with critics, highlights the good work of natural actors, both adults and children, the best of Hasan Hadi’s film.
President’s cake
Direction and Leadership: Hasan Hadi.
interpreters: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Sajad Mohamad Qasem, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Rahim AlHaj
Anus: 2025.
External: February 6
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