Oscar nominated, this engrossing debut film is about a young girl in 1990s Iraq who is faced with the challenge of baking a cake for her school’s celebration of Saddam Hussein’s birthday.
Although considered a great honour, nine year old Lamia’s task feels impossible, as she and her grandmother Bibi struggle to get by.
Before school, Bibi teaches Lamia clever tricks to avoid being chosen for the president’s cake. However, when Musa, the authoritative teacher, calls Lamia’s name for the most challenging task – the birthday cake – she has no choice but to accept. Refusing could mean imprisonment or even death.
Cert 12A. Running time 106 minutes. Arabic Drama.
Director: Hasan Hadi. Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Licensed bar. Doors open at 6:15pm. Film starts at 7pm.
