The President's Cake
Hasan Hadi / IQ, QA, US, 2025 / 105 min.
Iraqi journalist and filmmaker Hasan Hadi’s feature debut reveals life under an authoritarian regime through the eyes of a child. 9-year-old Lamia has to bake a cake to celebrate President Saddam Hussein’s birthday – but where on earth is she supposed to get the ingredients?
As the population of Iraq in the mid-’90s struggles to survive war and food shortages, Saddam Hussein demands that every school in the country bake a cake to celebrate his birthday. 9-year-old Lamia is given the task of bringing a cake to school for this compulsory celebration of the president’s birthday.
Pre-film
Before The President’s Cake, you will see the short film Bébé juge (3') by Louis Feuillade from 1912. This short comedy from the Eye collection is about two sisters who argue over who gets the saucer with the most jams. Little brother Bébé distributes the saucers. Dressed as a judge, he divides candy between himself and his sisters in his own unique way.
Details
Director
Hasan Hadi
Production year
2025
Country
IQ, QA, US
Original title
Mamlaket al-qasab
Length
105 min.
Language
Arabic
Subtitles
NLD or ENG
Format
DCP
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