Forced to Bake for the Dictator: A Bittersweet Taste of Childhood
In the midst of Saddam Hussein's brutal regime, a young girl named Lamia was forced to bake a birthday cake for her dictator. In reality, the film "The President's Cake" is not about the infamous leader, but about the devastating effects of sanctions on Iraqi children like Lamia.
Iraq had no cinemas in the 1990s when Hasan Hadi grew up under Saddam Hussein's regime. However, he fell in love with films after a family member introduced him to VHS tapes of banned foreign movies. Secretly watching these films became his escape, but also carried risks, as he could have been caught and punished.
The film captures the innocence of childhood during that tumultuous period. The protagonist, Lamia, is forced to bake a cake for Saddam's birthday due to an obligation from her teacher. Despite this, she faces hardship, with food scarce and prices exorbitant due to sanctions. Her grandmother's desperate measures to gather precious possessions only highlights the dire situation.
One heart-wrenching scene in the film depicts Lamia's teacher stealing an apple from her bag. Such betrayal feels like a cruel blow, especially when it comes to something as small but cherished as food. The damage caused by sanctions goes beyond visible destruction; it's a "deeper" violence that can have long-lasting effects.
Hadi studied film in New York and aimed not to make a political statement but to share the stories of two kids caught up in those difficult times. He used untrained actors, as there were no drama schools in Iraq, to bring authenticity to his story.
Filming on water was a perilous venture for Hadi, who eventually developed grey hair from the experience. Despite this, he expresses a desire to continue making films about Iraq, driven by a need to share its stories with the world.
In the midst of Saddam Hussein's brutal regime, a young girl named Lamia was forced to bake a birthday cake for her dictator. In reality, the film "The President's Cake" is not about the infamous leader, but about the devastating effects of sanctions on Iraqi children like Lamia.
Iraq had no cinemas in the 1990s when Hasan Hadi grew up under Saddam Hussein's regime. However, he fell in love with films after a family member introduced him to VHS tapes of banned foreign movies. Secretly watching these films became his escape, but also carried risks, as he could have been caught and punished.
The film captures the innocence of childhood during that tumultuous period. The protagonist, Lamia, is forced to bake a cake for Saddam's birthday due to an obligation from her teacher. Despite this, she faces hardship, with food scarce and prices exorbitant due to sanctions. Her grandmother's desperate measures to gather precious possessions only highlights the dire situation.
One heart-wrenching scene in the film depicts Lamia's teacher stealing an apple from her bag. Such betrayal feels like a cruel blow, especially when it comes to something as small but cherished as food. The damage caused by sanctions goes beyond visible destruction; it's a "deeper" violence that can have long-lasting effects.
Hadi studied film in New York and aimed not to make a political statement but to share the stories of two kids caught up in those difficult times. He used untrained actors, as there were no drama schools in Iraq, to bring authenticity to his story.
Filming on water was a perilous venture for Hadi, who eventually developed grey hair from the experience. Despite this, he expresses a desire to continue making films about Iraq, driven by a need to share its stories with the world.
I can just imagine how hard it must've been for those kids growing up under Saddam Hussein's regime... being forced to watch these forbidden movies as their escape from reality, and then having to bake a cake for the dictator himself 
It's like they were living in this perpetual state of limbo. And you're right, the damage caused by sanctions isn't just physical, it's emotional too. Those kids must've grown up with so much uncertainty and fear... I feel bad thinking about them even though they're grown now 
... it's so much deeper than that. I mean, who hasn't been in Lamia's shoes, tryin' to survive with food bein' scarce and prices goin' through the roof? It's like, you're just tryin' to live your life, but everything is stacked against you. And for me, it's a bit of a sad story, 'cause I feel like we can learn from this... we should be more empathetic towards people who are strugglin'. Plus, I think the way Hadi told Lamia's story was pretty powerful – it's not just about the drama or action, but about the human side of things.
... I mean, can you even imagine having to bake a cake for your dictator? 
It's like, what if it didn't turn out right? What if Saddam hated the cake? 
But seriously, the way they portrayed the struggles of Lamia and her friends is just heartbreakin'. Sanctions have this ripple effect on people's lives, and it's like... you can feel the desperation. I love how the director tried to keep it real by using untrained actors - it gives it this raw, genuine vibe 
. And dude, filming on water? That's some next-level stuff! 
. It shows how hard life was back then and how kids were affected by the sanctions. I also feel bad for Lamia when her teacher steals an apple from her bag, it's like losing something small but precious 
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. And I think using untrained actors was a great idea because it makes the story feel more real and authentic 
. The fact that filming on water was perilous but important for him shows how passionate he is about sharing Iraq's stories with the world 
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food was scarce and prices were crazy high... my grandma used to tell me about how she had to queue for hours just to get some bread 