Dir: Hasan Hadi, Iraq, 2025, 115 mins.
Cast: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Review by Carlie Newman
Although life is very hard for people living in the country, President Saddam Hussein has decreed that each school must choose someone to bake a cake in honour of his birthday. 9-year-old Lamia (Baneen Ahmad Nayyef) tries hard to make sure that she is not chosen but her efforts are in vain, and she is forced to source a great number of ingredients to make the cake.
Living with her grandmother, Bibi , (Waheed Thabet Khreibet), who has little money, Lamia goes to town – Baghdad- to obtain ingredients for the cake. She is accompanied by her pet rooster, Hindi and best friend, 8- year-old Saeed (Sajad Mohamad Qasam).
The two children have various encounters and a number of adventures as they try to obtain the ingredients at little or no cost. The children are bright and get up to all sorts of mischief, including stealing. Not only do the children have no money, but there is a shortage of ingredients because of the political state of the country.
The film uses mainly untrained actors. The two children act with unfettered enthusiasm and natural ability. Nonprofessional Baneen gives a lovely performance and works well with her great friend Saeed. Sajad gives a lively execution of the young boy.
On general release now
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