The Presiden’t Cake Movie Review

This film is set in the early 1990’s in Iraq. Their president at the time was Saddam Hussein, and they were under strict UN-backed sanctions. His people lived in extreme poverty. There were food shortages, and the people had limited access to medicine.

Being the tyrant he was, Hussein didn’t care that people were hungry and had very little money; he required all Iraqis to celebrate him and his birthday. This story takes place two days before said birthday.

We meet nine-year-old Lamia, played by Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, one of the best young actresses to come along in quite some time. I hope we see her more in the future. Lamia lives in a hut with her grandmother Bibi (Waheed Thabet Khreibat). They are very devoted to one another. They also have a rooster named Hindi who plays a large part in the film. Lamia has a friend named Saeed (Sajad Mohamad Qasem), for whom she is very close. They speak of Hussein, with Saeed wondering if the president eats the cake all by himself when he gets it. She shushes him, reminding him that ” the walls have ears.” He just tells her he wants to be president so he can eat all the cake in the world. She would drink all of the cola. Listening to this is heartbreaking as you know there is very little, if any, of these products around. There’s an early scene where water is being distributed. One jug (about two gallons) per person, maybe per household even, and that’s it. If you’re not in line, you miss out on your ration.

In school, all kids are forced to chant a slogan about their dear leader. They say they will give up their body and soul for him. Lamia didn’t have it memorized, but she does her best not to be noticed. There is a drawing for the student who is lucky enough to be chosen as the individual who gets to bake a cake for the president. Lamia is that fortunate child. She and Bibi had devised a plan to get Lamia out of the drawing, but it didn’t work. Of course, she’d be chosen. She’s distraught. Bibi is old, doesn’t work that much, and she’s sick. They have no money. Lamia doesn’t know what’s about to happen, but Bibi is planning to give the child to a family who can foster her. Lamia runs away as if she’s going to be left, she’ll choose the where she’s going on her own. But did she think this through?

What transpires is a fascinating trip with Saeed and Lamia, with Hindi in tow, attempting to get the ingredients for the cake. Hindi doesn’t know it, but he holds her fate in his paws. They run into a lot of men who have been in battle where Americans attacked them. They were in bad shape. That was a solid note the director wanted to get through to his audience. It does. Bibi is a mess, looking for the child. The president’s birthday is on everyone’s mind. Since it ranks above all else, the police do not help her, but Bibi gets some assistance from a taxi driver named Jasim (Rahim AlHaj) in finding Lamia. She’ll take it!

Many more characters come and go in the movie to tell the full story of what life is like there. You see people are in need, but they ultimately understand one another and try to help. There are some shocking moments, kids stealing to eat and adults stealing from children when they’re in need, as well, and it seems everyone truly has given their body and soul. Wow. It’s depressing to see. This has many lessons for those watching, and it’s a great script. Some of the cinematography is creative, but to truly appreciate how good this was, you have to know it was filmed entirely in Iraq, with mostly untrained actors. This is superb. Everything about it is. Do not miss it.