Iraqi director Hasan Hadi’s new film, The President’s Cake, highlights the bizarre birthday rituals under Saddam Hussein’s regime. The feature has won international acclaim, including a top award at the Cannes Film Festival.
Hadi, 37, drew on his childhood memories of Iraq in the 1990s, when the dictator’s birthday on April 28 was celebrated with public displays, songs on state radio, and school assignments. Children were expected to bake cakes for Saddam as part of official birthday rituals, even while the country suffered from severe UN sanctions.
“Children had strategies to avoid being picked, like calling in sick or bribing the teacher,” Hadi told AFP. His film tells the story of nine-year-old Lamia, who must gather scarce ingredients for a cake while facing harsh consequences if she fails. The journey reflects the hardships ordinary Iraqis endured under extreme shortages of flour, sugar, and eggs.
American producer Chris Columbus, known for Harry Potter and Gremlins, joined as executive producer after being impressed with Hadi’s storytelling. The film is gaining international attention for its tragicomic portrayal of life under dictatorship, showing how seemingly small acts—like failing to follow birthday rituals—could drastically affect a child’s future.
Saddam Hussein would appear on state television in a white suit, enjoying lavish cakes, while ordinary Iraqis struggled to make ends meet. Hadi explained, “Dictatorship not only destroys freedom of speech, but it also destroys basic human decency. It makes you lie, cheat, and survive in deceitful ways.”
The President’s Cake also sheds light on the struggles of Iraqi cinema, which has yet to recover fully from decades of conflict. With only around 40 cinemas still operating, Hadi hopes his film will encourage audiences to explore Iraqi stories.
By revisiting Saddam’s birthday rituals, Hadi delivers a powerful reminder of life under authoritarian rule. Critics have praised the film as a “tragicomic gem” and “a compassionate debut” that combines humor, tragedy, and history into a compelling narrative.
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