"Executive Dessert": A Bittersweet Ode to Childhood in Saddam Hussein's Iraq
Iraqi filmmaker Hasan Hadi's latest feature film, The President's Cake, has made headlines for its unique premise: a nine-year-old girl named Lamia must bake a cake for Saddam Hussein's birthday. But what begins as a straightforward tale of childhood innocence quickly becomes a scathing critique of the Iraqi regime under Saddam Hussein.
The film follows Lamia and her pet cockerel Hindi as they navigate the harsh realities of life in 1990s Iraq, where food was scarce and corruption ran rampant. Hadi's personal experiences growing up under Saddam's rule inform his portrayal of the regime's personality cult, which permeated every aspect of Iraqi life.
"I don't want to be political," Hadi insists, but the film is clearly not neutral. It exposes the brutal consequences of sanctions, which crippled Iraq's economy and left millions struggling to access basic necessities like healthcare and education.
One of the most heartbreaking scenes in the film shows Lamia's teacher stealing an apple from her schoolbag, a betrayal that feels all too real for many Iraqi children who lived through this period. Hadi notes that corruption was rife during sanctions, with teachers earning as little as $5 per month – a far cry from their pre-sanctions salaries of $800.
The film's untrained actors bring an authenticity to the story, capturing the raw emotions and desperation of childhood in wartime. Hadi shot on location, often filming on water to capture the treacherous terrain of Iraq's marshlands.
As one of the first Iraqi films to make it onto the Oscars' shortlist for best international feature, The President's Cake is generating buzz about the power of cinema to tell the stories that need to be told. But Hadi remains committed to his vision: "I want to make films about Iraq," he says with a resolute nod.
The film's themes of childhood innocence and the corrosive effects of corruption are timeless, and its portrayal of life under Saddam Hussein serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked power and the importance of storytelling in preserving history. As Hadi so eloquently puts it: "Sanctions are more violent than bombs."
Iraqi filmmaker Hasan Hadi's latest feature film, The President's Cake, has made headlines for its unique premise: a nine-year-old girl named Lamia must bake a cake for Saddam Hussein's birthday. But what begins as a straightforward tale of childhood innocence quickly becomes a scathing critique of the Iraqi regime under Saddam Hussein.
The film follows Lamia and her pet cockerel Hindi as they navigate the harsh realities of life in 1990s Iraq, where food was scarce and corruption ran rampant. Hadi's personal experiences growing up under Saddam's rule inform his portrayal of the regime's personality cult, which permeated every aspect of Iraqi life.
"I don't want to be political," Hadi insists, but the film is clearly not neutral. It exposes the brutal consequences of sanctions, which crippled Iraq's economy and left millions struggling to access basic necessities like healthcare and education.
One of the most heartbreaking scenes in the film shows Lamia's teacher stealing an apple from her schoolbag, a betrayal that feels all too real for many Iraqi children who lived through this period. Hadi notes that corruption was rife during sanctions, with teachers earning as little as $5 per month – a far cry from their pre-sanctions salaries of $800.
The film's untrained actors bring an authenticity to the story, capturing the raw emotions and desperation of childhood in wartime. Hadi shot on location, often filming on water to capture the treacherous terrain of Iraq's marshlands.
As one of the first Iraqi films to make it onto the Oscars' shortlist for best international feature, The President's Cake is generating buzz about the power of cinema to tell the stories that need to be told. But Hadi remains committed to his vision: "I want to make films about Iraq," he says with a resolute nod.
The film's themes of childhood innocence and the corrosive effects of corruption are timeless, and its portrayal of life under Saddam Hussein serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked power and the importance of storytelling in preserving history. As Hadi so eloquently puts it: "Sanctions are more violent than bombs."
This film sounds like such a powerful statement on how childhood was completely ruined under Saddam's rule 
I'm really glad that filmmakers like Hasan Hadi are speaking out and sharing their stories, it's so important for us to remember what happened in Iraq during those difficult times 
The fact that the actors were untrained but still brought an authenticity to the film is just amazing 
Can't wait to see how this one plays out on the Oscars! 
, and I gotta say...it's like someone took all my childhood memories of Iraq and smashed 'em into a blender. The way they showed how scarce food was and teachers getting like $5 a month? That broke my heart 
. I remember my mom struggling to make ends meet too. It's crazy how life under Saddam was so harsh, even for kids. I'm so proud of this Iraqi filmmaker, Hasan Hadi, for tellin' these stories that need bein' told 
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It's like, you know when we talk about how important stories are, right? 
And this one is just WOW! 
I mean, can you imagine having to bake a cake for Saddam Hussein's birthday? 
It's like, what even is that? But seriously, the way it shows how corruption and sanctions affected everyday people's lives... it's heartbreaking. 
Like, who wouldn't want $5 per month as a teacher salary? 
Not exactly the most exciting thing to look forward to, you know?
#SupportIraqiCinema
sadaam's regime was literally a nightmare, food rations were super low and everyone had to line up for hours just to get some bread lol. but its not all fun n games, millions of ppl suffered from sanctions & it still has effects today 
. i love how the film is making ppl think about what really happened back then, its like a big wake up call 
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. Anyway, I'm gonna make sure to check out The President's Cake and support Hadi's vision for telling more stories about Iraq 
this film is really hitting me hard it's like, you know when you're a kid and stuff gets taken away from you, but that's what was happening to iraqi kids during sanctions 
️ the way they portray the teachers stealing food from lamia's schoolbag is just so heartbreaking it's like, how could people do that to innocent kids? 
it's not just a story about the dictator and his cake party, it's about the human experience during wartime 
it's definitely not a movie that will be easy to watch, but if you do decide to watch it, just remember that it's about the power of cinema to tell stories and preserve history 
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and that scene with Lamia's teacher stealing an apple from her schoolbag still gives me chills... corruption was so rampant back then, it's like you couldn't even trust your own hands to hold onto anything 
the film's raw emotion is what makes it so impactful, and I love how Hadi shot on location, it adds a layer of authenticity that you just can't replicate with fancy studio sets 
. The way the film highlights the human cost of those policies is just devastating 
and i'm still reeling from it its like... how did u guys survive that? $5 a month for teachers is crazy 
hasan hadi is like a genius filmmaker or something his experiences growing up in iraq are so raw and honest its not easy to watch but i think thats what makes it so powerful 
It just goes to show that art can be both entertaining and educational at the same time.
Can you imagine having to bake a cake for Saddam Hussein's birthday? Like, what even is that? 
The fact that this film isn't taking the 'no politics' route and actually diving into the harsh realities of life under his regime is kinda refreshing. It's not like it's gonna win any awards for subtlety or anything 
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That's some emotional manipulation right there! And the fact that teachers were earning like $5 a month is just wild 
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Can't wait to see what else Hadi comes out with. 