Latest news with #Lamia
CairoScene
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Review: The President's Cake Is Cannes' Hidden Gem
Review: The President's Cake Is Cannes' Hidden Gem The film everyone should be talking about, but no one is for some reason, is Hasan Hadi's The President's Cake. A crowd-pleaser that brings to mind such classics as Majid Majidi's Children of Heaven, Abbas Kiarostami's Where is the Friend's House, and Theo Angelopoulos' Landscape in the Mist. It's 'draw day' across Iraq. In classrooms across the country, students are randomly selected to contribute to their school's mandatory celebration of Saddam Hussein's birthday. It's framed as an honour, but everyone knows the truth. Refusing could mean imprisonment or even death. Each school must bake one cake. Nine-year-old Lamia (Baneen Ahmad Nayyef) does everything she can to avoid being picked. But when the teacher pulls her name from the tin, she has no choice. She must bake that cake or face the repercussions. There's just one problem. The country is starving and sanctions have wiped markets clean. Flour, sugar, eggs, baking powder are nearly impossible to find. Across chaotic markets and guarded checkpoints, Lamia hunts for what little remains. The ingredients now are worth more than gold. Two days before the national celebration, Lamia is joined by her neighbour, Saeed (Sajad Mohamad Qasem). Together, they hitch a ride to a nearby city in search for the supplies. Their first lift comes from a seemingly kind mailman (Rahim Al Haj). They manage to find some eggs. However, it's not all smooth sailing. At a bakery, Lamia nearly gets caught trying to steal flour. Along the way, they meet a string of adults who take advantage of their innocence. In one of the film's most heart-breaking moments, Lamia sells her family's watch only to realise that the money is fake. While The President's Cake unfolds with the charm and simplicity of a modern-day fairy tale, it never loses sight of the quiet horrors that lie beneath. This is a story about a generation stripped of its childhood. Play is replaced by fear, and joy is rationed like food. It's set in a country scarred by war, crippled by sanctions, and held together by the fragile thread of blind obedience. What holds the people together is a quiet, enduring love. It's a love that flows between neighbours and clings to people who have nothing left but one another. By the end, Lamia sacrifices far more than time or effort. She loses the comforting illusions of childhood. What she gains is a painful awareness. That survival often comes at the cost of innocence. That even a child can be made to carry the weight of a corrupt system. This is the story of a young girl who, upon learning how the world truly works, is forced to grow up far too soon. Like the cake at the heart of the story, the film builds itself layer by layer. When the final layer is set, what's left is not just a coming-of-age tale. It's a haunting elegy for all the children who are forced to trade wonder for wisdom far too soon. The President's Cake is the hidden gem of the festival. It just might be the strongest film from the region to premiere this year at Cannes.
Iraqi News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Iraqi News
Hasan Hadi becomes first Iraqi to win Cannes Best Feature Debut
Cannes – Hasan Hadi, the first filmmaker from Iraq to be selected for the prestigious Cannes Festival, on Saturday won a top prize for his childhood adventure under economic sanctions in 'The President's Cake'. His first feature-length film follows nine-year-old Lamia after her school teacher picks her to bake the class a cake for President Saddam Hussein's birthday or risk being denounced for disloyalty. It is the early 1990s, the country is under crippling UN sanctions, and she and her grandmother can barely afford to eat. The pair set off from their home in the marshlands into town to try to track down the unaffordable ingredients. Hadi dedicated his Camera d'Or award, which honours first-time directors, to 'every kid or child around the world who somehow finds love, friendship and joy amid war, sanctions and dictatorship. 'You are the real heroes,' he said. He later shared the stage with dissident Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, who won the festival's Palme D'Or top prize for his 'It Was Just an Accident', the tale of five ordinary Iranians confronting a man they believed tortured them in jail. 'The President's Cake' has received excellent reviews since premiering last week in the Directors' Fortnight section. Cinema bible Variety called it a 'tragicomic gem'. Deadline said it was 'head and shoulders above' some of the films in the running for the festival's Palme d'Or top prize, and 'could turn out to be Iraq's first nominee for an Oscar'. – Palestinian films – Also from the Middle East, Palestinian director Tawfeek Barhom received his award for his short film 'I'm Glad You're Dead Now'. After giving thanks, he took the opportunity to mention the war in Gaza. 'In 20 years from now when we are visiting the Gaza Strip, try not to think about the dead and have a nice trip,' he said. US President Donald Trump sparked controversy this year by saying he wanted to turn the war-ravaged Palestinian territory into the 'Riviera of the Middle East'. Outside the main competition, Gazan twin brothers Arab and Tarzan Nasser on Friday received a directing award in the Certain Regard parallel section for 'Once Upon A Time In Gaza'. One of them dedicated the award to Palestinians, especially those living in their homeland of Gaza, which they left in 2012. He said that, when they hesitated to return to Cannes to receive the prize, his mother had encouraged him to go and tell the world about the suffering of people in Gaza. 'She said, 'No, no, no, you have to go. Tell them to stop the genocide',' he said. Amnesty International last month said Israel was carrying out a 'live-streamed genocide' against Palestinians in Gaza, claims Israel dismissed as 'blatant lies'.
Malaysian Reserve
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Malaysian Reserve
Iraq's first ever director in Cannes wins best feature debut
CANNES – Hasan Hadi, the first filmmaker from Iraq to be selected for the prestigious Cannes Festival, on Saturday won a top prize for his childhood adventure under economic sanctions in 'The President's Cake'. His first feature-length film follows nine-year-old Lamia after her school teacher picks her to bake the class a cake for President Saddam Hussein's birthday or risk being denounced for disloyalty. It is the early 1990s, the country is under crippling UN sanctions, and she and her grandmother can barely afford to eat. The pair set off from their home in the marshlands into town to try to track down the unaffordable ingredients. Hadi dedicated his Camera d'Or award, which honours first-time directors, to 'every kid or child around the world who somehow finds love, friendship and joy amid war, sanctions and dictatorship. 'You are the real heroes,' he said. He later shared the stage with dissident Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, who won the festival's Palme D'Or top prize for his 'It Was Just an Accident', the tale of five ordinary Iranians confronting a man they believed tortured them in jail. 'The President's Cake' has received excellent reviews since premiering last week in the Directors' Fortnight section. Cinema bible Variety called it a 'tragicomic gem'. Deadline said it was 'head and shoulders above' some of the films in the running for the festival's Palme d'Or top prize, and 'could turn out to be Iraq's first nominee for an Oscar'. Also from the Middle East, Palestinian director Tawfeek Barhom received his award for his short film 'I'm Glad You're Dead Now'. After giving thanks, he took the opportunity to mention the war in Gaza. 'In 20 years from now when we are visiting the Gaza Strip, try not to think about the dead and have a nice trip,' he said. US President Donald Trump sparked controversy this year by saying he wanted to turn the war-ravaged Palestinian territory into the 'Riviera of the Middle East'. Outside the main competition, Gazan twin brothers Arab and Tarzan Nasser on Friday received a directing award in the Certain Regard parallel section for 'Once Upon A Time In Gaza'. One of them dedicated the award to Palestinians, especially those living in their homeland of Gaza, which they left in 2012. He said that, when they hesitated to return to Cannes to receive the prize, his mother had encouraged him to go and tell the world about the suffering of people in Gaza. 'She said, 'No, no, no, you have to go. Tell them to stop the genocide',' he said. Amnesty International last month said Israel was carrying out a 'live-streamed genocide' against Palestinians in Gaza, claims Israel dismissed as 'blatant lies'. –AFP
France 24
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- France 24
Iraq's first ever director in Cannes wins best feature debut
His first feature-length film follows nine-year-old Lamia after her school teacher picks her to bake the class a cake for President Saddam Hussein's birthday or risk being denounced for disloyalty. It is the early 1990s, the country is under crippling UN sanctions, and she and her grandmother can barely afford to eat. The pair set off from their home in the marshlands into town to try to track down the unaffordable ingredients. Hadi dedicated his Camera d'Or award, which honours first-time directors, to "every kid or child around the world who somehow finds love, friendship and joy amid war, sanctions and dictatorship. "You are the real heroes," he said. He later shared the stage with dissident Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, who won the festival's Palme D'Or top prize for his "It Was Just an Accident", the tale of five ordinary Iranians confronting a man they believed tortured them in jail. "The President's Cake" has received excellent reviews since premiering last week in the Directors' Fortnight section. Cinema bible Variety called it a "tragicomic gem". Deadline said it was "head and shoulders above" some of the films in the running for the festival's Palme d'Or top prize, and "could turn out to be Iraq's first nominee for an Oscar". Palestinian films Also from the Middle East, Palestinian director Tawfeek Barhom received his award for his short film "I'm Glad You're Dead Now". After giving thanks, he took the opportunity to mention the war in Gaza. "In 20 years from now when we are visiting the Gaza Strip, try not to think about the dead and have a nice trip," he said. US President Donald Trump sparked controversy this year by saying he wanted to turn the war-ravaged Palestinian territory into the "Riviera of the Middle East". Outside the main competition, Gazan twin brothers Arab and Tarzan Nasser on Friday received a directing award in the Certain Regard parallel section for "Once Upon A Time In Gaza". One of them dedicated the award to Palestinians, especially those living in their homeland of Gaza, which they left in 2012. He said that, when they hesitated to return to Cannes to receive the prize, his mother had encouraged him to go and tell the world about the suffering of people in Gaza. "She said, 'No, no, no, you have to go. Tell them to stop the genocide'," he said. Amnesty International last month said Israel was carrying out a "live-streamed genocide" against Palestinians in Gaza, claims Israel dismissed as "blatant lies".
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cannes: Hasan Hadi's ‘The President's Cake' Wins Directors' Fortnight Audience Award
Iraqi filmmaker Hasan Hadi has won the Directors' Fortnight People's Choice Award at the Cannes Film Festival for his poignant, darkly comic debut feature The President's Cake. The €7,500 ($8,400) cash prize is the only audience-voted award across the official selection and parallel sections in Cannes and marks a major breakthrough for the New York-based Hadi. The film is being sold internationally by Films Boutique, with UTA handling North American rights. More from The Hollywood Reporter 'Heads or Tails?' Review: John C. Reilly Plays Buffalo Bill in a Wacky Italy-Set Western With Ambition to Burn 'Yes' Review: Director Nadav Lapid's Decadent Romp Through the Madness and Misery of Post-October 7th Israel Cannes: Mubi Buys Wagner Moura-Starring 'The Secret Agent' for U.K., India, Most of Latin America Based on Hadi's own childhood in 1990s Iraq, the film follows nine-year-old Lamia, who is tasked with baking a cake to honor Saddam Hussein's birthday — a seemingly simple assignment with life-or-death stakes. Amid crippling sanctions, food shortages and a climate of fear, Lamia's attempt to gather ingredients becomes a journey of quiet rebellion and resourcefulness. Produced by Leah Chen Baker under the banner of TPC Film LLC, the film has resonated with critics and audiences alike. In her The Hollywood Reporter review, Sheri Linden praised it as 'a tragicomic gem,' writing: 'Hadi's film is an exceptional screen debut, as perceptive as it is kinetic and, with one eye on the bombers overhead, brimming with life.' The Directors' Fortnight People's Choice Award was launched in 2023 in partnership with the Chantal Akerman Foundation, honoring the late Belgian auteur whose work frequently premiered in the section — including her feminist masterwork Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles. The award was created to spotlight bold, audience-connected filmmaking in the spirit of Akerman's legacy. The debut 2024 honor went to Canadian feature Universal Language from director Matthew Rankin. Elsewhere in the Directors' Fortnight, Belgian filmmaker Valéry Carnoy's Wild Foxes (La Danse des Renards) dominated the sidebar's collateral awards, taking home both the Europa Cinemas Label for Best European Film and the SACD Coup de Cœur Prize for best French-language feature. The film follows a gifted young boxer at a prestigious sports boarding school who is forced to reevaluate his life after a devastating injury. THR reviewer Jordan Mintzer called the film 'a gripping and distinctive sports flick.' Co-produced by Hélicotronc (Belgium) and Les Films du Poisson (France), Wild Foxes is being sold internationally by The Party Film Sales. The Europa Cinemas win means the film will receive extended distribution support across Europe, with additional promotion and incentives for exhibitors. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Hollywood Stars Who Are One Award Away From an EGOT 'The Goonies' Cast, Then and Now "A Nutless Monkey Could Do Your Job": From Abusive to Angst-Ridden, 16 Memorable Studio Exec Portrayals in Film and TV
