Scroll.in reviews Iraqi director Hasan Hadi’s award-winning film ‘The President’s Cake’, a moving drama set in Iraq during the early 1990s under Saddam Hussein’s rule.

The story follows nine-year-old Lamia, an orphaned girl living with her grandmother in conditions of severe poverty caused by international sanctions and economic hardship.Her school teacher orders her to bring a cake to celebrate Saddam Hussein’s birthday, presenting it as a patriotic duty.Failure to do so could lead to punishment from the authorities.The film uses this seemingly simple task to show the cruelty of authoritarian systems and the suffering of ordinary citizens.

Lamia, along with her classmate Saeed, struggles to collect ingredients like flour, sugar and eggs in a society where even basic necessities are scarce.Their difficult journey reveals how propaganda, fear and deprivation shape everyday life in Iraq.

The review compares the film to the Italian neo-realist classic ‘Bicycle Thieves’ because of its focus on poverty and impossible burdens placed on vulnerable people.

The article also highlights the emotional relationship between Lamia and her pet cockerel Hindi, which adds tenderness to an otherwise grim narrative.The performances by the child actors, many of them non-professional performers, are praised for their realism and emotional depth.

Although the film’s storyline is described as somewhat predictable, the reviewer says it remains powerful because of its honest portrayal of hunger, resilience and the human cost of dictatorship and global indifference.

‘The President’s Cake’ won the Camera d’Or award at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and is available on Netflix as well as other streaming platforms in India.