Sometimes you just want to watch movies to escape reality, but there are times when it’s beneficial to see a film that puts things into perspective. Watching a movie like The President’s Cake makes all my first-world issues feel minuscule, practically non-existent.

Never has a school draw been so nerve-wracking. 9-year-old Iraqi girl Lamia and her grandmother prayed the night before that she wouldn’t be chosen, but their prayers went unanswered. The unfortunate ‘winner’ has to bake a cake for her school’s celebration of then-President Saddam Hussein’s birthday in the early 1990s.

Never mind that UN-imposed sanctions due to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait created food shortages, or the fact that most Iraqis, like Lamia, struggled to survive the war and live in poverty. Hussein still insisted that every school bake a cake for his 50th birthday. There was no leniency for those who didn’t complete this mandatory task; Lamia’s teacher made it clear that failure would lead to harsh consequences, possibly even death.

Lamia (Baneen Ahmad Nayyef), her fragile grandmother Bibi (Waheed Thabet Khreibat), and her pet rooster Hindi set out from the historic Mesopotamian marshes where they live, heading to the city to find the ingredients for the cake: eggs, flour, sugar, and milk, which were hard to come by. An incident in the city causes Lamia and Bibi to get separated, and later, Lamia’s friend Saeed (Sajad Mohamad Qasem) joins her on this dangerous journey.

Written and directed by Hasan Hadi, it’s really astounding what Hadi’s accomplished here with a limited budget and mostly untrained actors. Everything about this film works better than many features from more experienced filmmakers. The writing, direction, acting, cinematography, editing, etc. is top notch, I’m flabbergasted to learn this is Hadi’s feature directorial debut. At 1 hour 45 minutes, the film’s pacing is just right, every scene tells a story, and it’s engaging from start to finish. Hadi’s direction is matter-of-fact without relying on manipulative music to pull your heartstrings. In fact, the string-heavy music, perhaps using the Oud instrument, is used sparingly but effectively.

I love how Hadi tells a story of the Marsh people, as Lamia and her family live in this unique wetland landscape. She travels to and from school by a narrow canoe and sometimes stumbles upon a water buffalo or two on the water. Romanian DP Tudor Vladimir Panduru beautifully captures the marshes, especially during the night scenes. It’s such a stark contrast to the lively Baghdad, where Lamia and Saeed have to rely on their wits and creativity to gather ingredients. Throughout her journey, Lamia meets both good and bad people; she even almost lost her cherished rooster along the way.

The standout of the film is definitely the child actors, especially Nayyef, who shines in her acting debut. I couldn’t take my eyes off her as she expresses so much with her stunning, dramatic eyes. For someone so young, it feels like she carries the weight of the world’s sadness. Directing child actors requires a unique talent, and Hadi not only selected the right actors but also managed to draw out compelling performances from them. The fact that  Iranian-American musician Rahim AlHaj also leaves a lasting impression as the kind-hearted taxi driver/mailman who helps Bibi locate Lamia when the police are too preoccupied with the birthday festivities to assist.

Hadi also portrays scenes that illustrate life under Hussein’s harsh dictatorship. While it may appear that people are moving about freely, there are clear indications of a nation ruled by a totalitarian regime. It’s unsettling to witness children marching alongside armed soldiers, chanting, ‘We sacrifice our blood and souls for you, Saddam.’ However, despite the grim reality, the film doesn’t feel heavy or depressing; it leans more towards bittersweet. There are light-hearted moments and touches of humor to provide some balance. It’s also fascinating to get a glimpse of Iraqi culture as people go about their daily life on the streets, at the market, mosque, etc.

It also captures the essence of childhood, as Lamia and Saeed frequently engage in the blinking game. This game serves as both a pastime and a survival strategy, which is something the film’s heart-wrenching conclusion highlights. The ending is quite similar to Oscar-nominated Iranian drama It Was Just An Accident, in that it left me quite shaken and lingered in my mind for days after I finished watching. The film also showed actual footage of Saddam cutting a ginormous cake on his birthday, which is infuriating given that the Iraqi people were suffering and barely getting by.

The movie snagged a few awards at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, including the Directors’ Fortnight Audience Award. Hadi is a 2022 Sundance Institute Screenwriting and Directing Fellow and also teaches as an adjunct professor at NYU’s Graduate Film Program. This is the first Iraqi film to be shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, though it sadly didn’t make the cut. Still, it’s a must-see for anyone who loves international cinema, especially if you enjoy films that challenge you and transport you to another world.

The President’s Cake is currently playing in US theaters