Director Hasan Hadi won the Caméra d’Or at Cannes in 2025 for this debut film that critics and audiences have called charming, perceptive and “packed with unassuming punch”.

Soon after the 1990 invasion of Kuwait, Iraq is under strict economic sanctions. Nonetheless, Saddam Hussein orders that each and every school of the country celebrate his birthday with a cake. 9-year-old Lamia receives the “honour” of baking for the potentate, despite the shortage of even the most basic baking ingredients.

What follows is a morally complex, tragicomic quest from the pastoral Mesopotamian marshlands to the crowded markets of Baghdad – under the gaze of a wealthy and cruel ruler whose portrait is placarded on every surface.

With the help of accomplices Hindi (her pet cockerel) and Saaed (her pickpocket peer who has to bring fruits to the party), Lamia faces disdainful and dishonest adults. But even if the ask is absurd, failure is not an option.

Wednesday May 13 at 6:30

Landmark Grand 10 Cinema

Iraq/USA/Qatar

Arabic, with English Subtitles

1h 45 min