The President's Cake

Find Movie Theaters & Showtimes

for
near
in
COMING SOON

Check back soon for more information.

Browse Local Theaters

Videos & Photos

Movie Info & Cast

Runtime:

1hr 45m

Synopsis

In 1990s Iraq, 9-year-old Lamia must bake the President's birthday cake. She scrambles to find ingredients for this compulsory task while facing potential punishment if she fails.

Letterboxd User Reviews

4.0
55.1K
14.1K
19.0K
RATINGS 368 FANS
4.0
  • May 16, 2025

    Jamais je fais tout ça pour Macron

    0 Likes
    Anthony
    Anthony
    Jun 8, 2025

    Seriously the best acting in recent years from a child and a rooster  A very special film.

    0 Likes
    Sab Vidler
    Sab Vidler
    Sep 6, 2025

    A beautifully shot and haunting portrait of life under Iraqi dictatorship through the eyes of a young girl. We see just how difficult obtaining simple foods are underneath crushing sanctions, and witness the economic toll on everyday people and breaking down social…

    0 Likes
    Brother Bro
    Brother Bro
  •
    Feb 9, 2026

    Très bien le Gâteau du Président, l'histoire d'une petite fille en Irak qui doit cuisiner un gâteau pour honorer Saddam Hussein sauf que malheureusement, comme tout le pays, elle n'a pas d'argent pour acheter les ingrédients. C'est là que commence une quête à travers la…

    0 Likes
    Regelegorila
    Regelegorila
    Feb 7, 2026

    - la farine pour la vie - le sucre pour la rendre plus douce - trois œufs pour la fertilité - la levure pour que ce soit moelleux

    0 Likes
    capu
    capu
    Feb 5, 2026

    Not a single reference to Saddam Hussein's hiding spot 💔

    0 Likes
    Adam Bensoltane
    Adam Bensoltane
  •
    Feb 5, 2026

    - Tu t'appelles comment, petit ? - Saeed. - C'est un beau prénom. Si mon enfant est un fils, je l'appellerai Saeed. Et toi petite, tu t'appelles comment ? - Lamia. - Seigneur, faites que j'aie un fils.

    0 Likes
    WongKarWaifu
    WongKarWaifu
    Apr 7, 2026

    Thanks for the recipe!

    0 Likes
    ali
    ali
    Feb 4, 2026

    The cut to Saddam Hussein really was the cherry on top….

    0 Likes
    Aurore
    Aurore

Atom Users Reviews

No one has posted a user review yet.

Metacritic

84
metacritic
Based on 17 Critics
tbd

USER SCORE (0)

There are no user reviews yet
83
Feb 25, 2026

The President’s Cake remains a lovely tale, with some sweeping, almost touristic views of Baghdad, and a slightly ambiguous downbeat ending.

Chris Knight
Original-Cin
90
Feb 24, 2026

What’s most remarkable about the film, which was shot in Iraq, are the performances. The cast members are not actors. They’re non-professionals, at least, acting for the first time. Yet their performances feel so genuine, so lived-in.

Metacritic review by Bill Goodykoontz
Bill Goodykoontz
Arizona Republic
80
Feb 10, 2026

Hadi tells an engaging story, brings complex and surprising characters to life, lends a locale an aesthetic iconography, and renders personal identity inextricable from the forces of history that shaped or deformed it.

Richard Brody
The New Yorker

Frequently Asked Questions

Is The President's Cake family-friendly?
The movie has been rated as PG-13, meaning that some material may be considered inappropriate for children under 13.
How long is The President's Cake?
The movie is 1hr 45min long.
What's The President's Cake about?
In 1990s Iraq, 9-year-old Lamia must bake the President's birthday cake. She scrambles to find ingredients for this compulsory task while facing potential punishment if she fails.