The President's Cake

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The President's Cake

PG-13

Feb 2026

1h 45m

Drama

History

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99%

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87 Reviews

89%

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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Bianca Farmakis

The Australian

Sep 9, 2026

4/5

The film’s greatest achievement is its restraint. Hadi never lectures; instead, he lets the astonishing brilliance of his young lead carry a gutting reckoning on the erosion of innocence.

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Sandra Hall

The Age (Australia)

Apr 2, 2026

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, 2026

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

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Diego Batlle

Otroscines.com

3 days ago

3.5/5

... I found it a very effective film, but also somewhat conventional, and even a bit simplistic and demagogic. [Full review in Spanish]

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Anthony Kao

Cinema Escapist

Aug 28, 2026

The President’s Cake represents a triumph of Iraqi cinema. Like its protagonists, the film...

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Jordan Ruimy

World of Reel

Aug 14, 2026

B+

As I watched, I found myself marveling at Hasan Hadi’s control, balancing dark humor, childlike wonder, and the grim realities of life under an authoritarian regime.

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Emma

Mar 5, 2026

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, 2026

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, 2026

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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Priscilla S

@RT6799866119076 Sep 7, 2026

Such a beautiful little film. It's quiet and heartbreaking without ever feeling manipulative, and the child's perspective makes the whole story feel incredibly intimate.

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Henry D

@Henry_Domke Sep 7, 2026

It was fun to see life inside Iraq through the eyes of a 9-year-old girl. She powers on in her quest to find the ingredients for a cake to celebrate Saddam Hussein's birthday, an especially cruel assignment to impose on people who are already desperately poor. Along the way she encounters a wide range of people, some kind and some threatening. The story is almost like a fairy tale, but one set against the very real hardships of life under Saddam.

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Rami A

@RT58362569 Jul 11, 2026

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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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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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 (Some Suggestive Material|Smoking|Strong Language)
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

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