THE PRESIDENT'S CAKE

Writer/director Hasan Hadi (in his feature debut) has taken a unique approach to making this film: once his script was in place, rather than following its structure to the letter, he said he put it aside "and surrendered to what the world was gifting me." That ranged from shooting in real-life environments, to adapting the story to locations he and director of photography Tudor Vladimir Panduru ('My Happy Family', 'Graduation') came across, to casting non-actors and having limited rehearsals or takes. Utilising these techniques creates a very natural sensation throughout the film, immersing you in what feels like daily life in 1990s Iraq.

And what a life it is - one where simple survival is a daily challenge, and yet these are proud, dignified people who continue to persevere and adapt. There's a cruel irony in the idea that, through forced loyalty, having your people gather together scarce and unaffordable everyday essentials due to your leadership missteps to celebrate your own birthday, but failing to do so could result in the death of innocent children. Hussein's image appears in almost every shot of this film: on posters, in drawings, from above, constantly watching over the Iraqi people. The way the oppressive nature is handled is captured differently across generations: Waheed Thabet Khreibat would have lived much of her life under the rule of Saddam Hussein and experienced firsthand the hardships depicted in this film, whereas Baneen Ahmed Nayyef and Sajad Mohamad Qasem retain a childlike naïveté, which only works in the film's favour. Even at the most challenging of times throughout the story, their characters will still face off in a staring contest; despite the burden of their undertaking, they are still kids, after all.

Perhaps, however, the award for most patient actor goes to Hindi the rooster; it's amazing to think how the team managed to work so extensively with this seemingly well-behaved live animal. The beautifully-hued bird steals so many scenes - and quite possibly your heart, too, as Lamia's closest confidante; he's set to rival your most emotionally manipulative Disney character creation.

The film's natural realism pairs with some stunning cinematography by Panduru, particularly the dusk and night shots in the marshes, a very different Iraq from the one we've been exposed to, which feels like it's a vision lifted from a fairytale. Here, he chooses to illuminate subjects in the beautiful orange flicker of oil lamps. This fairytale quality only reinforces the childlike ideal that home is safe and untouchable, even though Bibi silently knows that this façade is fast crumbling and she can no longer protect Lamia from it. These visuals contrast with those in the loud, gritty city, where the suffering and challenges are more evident, the oranges here emanating from fading afternoons and sweltering sunsets. It's clear that Lamia is out of her element in this environment at first, used to rowing herself to school, saddled with a leather bag among the water buffalo, but that fierce independence fares her well on this mission.

While the film's format generally works in its favour, its tale is certainly told as a slow burn, and in places it can linger longer than necessary. While the story focuses on desperation and people's ability to overcome it, its format is to relay tragedy after tragedy, moving from set piece to set piece, without offering any real deviation. It does make the 105-minute run time feel a little longer than necessary, though the story's final act certainly contains some of its most powerful moments.

At the film's end, we see archival footage of Saddam Hussein celebrating his birthday in utter opulence, standing aside a cake that reaches the roof. As we still witness that same history being repeated by dictators of all kinds across the globe, 'The President's Cake' unearths the secrets of bygone authoritarian regimes, takes us on an adventure through an ancient society as seen through the eyes of youth, and reveals the pinnacle of human perseverance and spirit.

The 'The President's Cake' competition has now closed. Winners will be announced shortly. Check our Comps page for all a list of our winners.

Competition opens at 5:00pm AEDT on Sunday 22nd March 2026 and closes at 11:59 pm AEDT on Sunday 29th March 2026. Six winners will be chosen at random on Monday 30th March 2026. To successfully win, entrants must fulfil the above entry conditions before the time the competition closes. Current members/followers are eligible to enter the competition. Only one entry per person. Only one winner per household. To be a valid winner, the entrant must not have won a prize from SWITCH within the last 28 days. Each winner will receive one double pass to 'The President's Cake'. By entering, you agree to receive occasional emails from SWITCH in the future. If you decide to unsubscribe from these updates, any further entries will not be applicable. Only Australian residents are eligible to enter.