The President's Cake

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The President's Cake

PG-13

Feb 2026

1h 45m

Drama

History

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Popcornmeter

99%

Tomatometer

83 Reviews

90%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

While people across 1990's Iraq struggle to survive, 9-year old Lamia has been selected to prepare a cake to celebrate the President's birthday. In a landscape of fear and scarcity, where basic ingredients are nearly impossible to find, Lamia sets out on a determined journey throughout the big city in search of eggs, flour, and sugar. Accompanied by her grandmother, her loyal friend Saeed, and her pet rooster Hindi, she navigates vendors and police officers along the way.

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Critics Consensus

A tenderly crafted, often devastating portrait of childhood in rural Iraq, The President's Cake vividly brings to life its morally complex world through richly drawn characters and intimate storytelling.

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Sandra Hall

The Age (Australia)

Apr 2

4/5

It’s certainly not a tragedy yet Hadi is too much of a realist to deliver a happy ending and he finishes on a note of sadness. But you’re still left with great faith in Lamia and Saeed’s ability to make their way in the world, no matter what lies ahead.

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Maxwell Rabb

Chicago Reader

Mar 9

The President’s Cake is carried by the remarkable performances of its predominantly amateur cast, especially its child actors.

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Barry Hertz

Globe and Mail

Feb 26

Shot entirely in the director’s home country with a largely amateur, untrained cast, the film blends a striking sense of street-level realism, political commentary and poetic nostalgia for the naive innocence of youth.

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David Parkinson

Radio Times

Jul 20

4/5

Echoes of neo-realism and New Iranian Cinema abound, while cinematographer Tudor Vladimir Panduru and production designer Anamaria Tecu do a magnificent job in contrasting Lamia's remote marshland community with the corrupting bustle of the town.

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James Mottram

South China Morning Post

Jul 14

4.5/5

Hasan Hadi makes a striking debut with The President’s Cake. ... The film perfectly blends the political and the personal to elevate its narrative into something quite profound.

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Filipe Freitas

Always Good Movies

May 13

4.5/5

Heartbreaking yet poetic, The President’s Cake unfolds as a perceptive and elegantly crafted fable, enriched by refined imagery and a bittersweet emotional tone.

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Emma

Mar 5

Could have been an hour long. The good thing it shows how terrible lives are under these dictators.

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Joanne S

Feb 27

An intimate experience of Iraq under Saddam Husseins rule. Told from the perspective of two young schoolchildren, this film is heartwarming and heartbreaking.

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Matt

Feb 18

Outstanding film. The young girl was so talented I was shocked to hear it was her first film. It was both heartwarming and devastating. The rooster did a great job too.

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Rami A

@RT58362569 Jul 11

As an unfortunate guy who lived 21 years under Sadaam’s regime, I definitely say the movie did a great job portraying everyday reality for these miserable souls. The details of the movie were absolutely stunning and very touching. 23 years later and the sound of the sirens from air raids still makes me terrified. I really wish no one would ever have to experience that.

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Kyrill G

@RT38548830 Jun 9

It's a okay/nice/fine movie. I think 99% critcis and 91% popcorn/audience rating is a bit too high imo. Though it's quite entertaining, and I learned a lot of new things. It's nice getting to know other cultures, and in this cafe specifally Irak. For instance in this movie everyone takings a rowing boat to school/work, never knew that be4. And It does make you think ''twice'' about Dictators. Ofc they are Bad, but where they only bad? Before the US invadeded there were 0 sucicde bombings in Irak, now the numbers, since than, has been in the thousands of more suicide bombings. And the children actors and actreces in this movie are quite good. I liked the Delivery /Postman guy a lot. He is really kind , in a very corrupt culture and sociecty.

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Vincent S

@Vin_E_At_The_Movies May 22

This is a thoughtful, emotional, naturally well-acted and very well-made drama. A period film that is compelling and powerful if sobering coming-of-age-drama.

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Hasan Hadi

Director

Baneen Ahmad Nayyef

Lamia

Sajad Mohamad Qasem

Saeed

Waheed Thabet Khreibat

Bibi

Rahim AlHaj

Jasim

Muthanna Malaghi

Muthanna

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The President's Cake: Teaser Trailer

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Synopsis

While people across 1990's Iraq struggle to survive, 9-year old Lamia has been selected to prepare a cake to celebrate the President's birthday. In a landscape of fear and scarcity, where basic ingredients are nearly impossible to find, Lamia sets out on a determined journey throughout the big city in search of eggs, flour, and sugar. Accompanied by her grandmother, her loyal friend Saeed, and her pet rooster Hindi, she navigates vendors and police officers along the way.

Director: Hasan Hadi
Producer: Leah Chen Baker
Screenwriter: Hasan Hadi, Eric Roth
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: TPC Film
Rating: PG-13 (Strong Language|Some Suggestive Material|Smoking)
Genre: Drama, History
Original Language: Arabic
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 6, 2026, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 7, 2026
Box Office (Gross USA): $214.0K
Runtime: 1h 45m
Aspect Ratio: Digital 2.39:1