The President’s Cake
總統的生日蛋糕
7.4/10 Good 111 votes
- Released
- 16 Jul 2026
- Runtime
- 105 min
- Certificate
- Category IIA
- Original title
- The President's Cake
- Language
- en
The verdict
Audiences rate it 7.4 out of 10 on TMDB across 111 votes — a solid score. It is playing 8 times at 1 cinema across 1 district, from HK$60 to HK$95 depending on cinema and time. The cheapest seat is at CINEMATHEQUE in Yau Ma Tei, HK$60. Category IIA · 105 minutes.
What it is about
“We've gone from one egg each to one egg for a whole family.” In 1990s, Iraq suffered from military and economic sanctions, commodities such as eggs and flour were luxurious. Yet President Saddam Hussein demanded the entire nation to celebrate his birthday. 9-year-old Lamia was chosen by her school to bake a birthday cake for the President. Lamia followed her grandmother into the city to hunt for cake ingredients. Along the way, Lamia encountered the seamy side of human nature with bitter reality, contrasted with the sweetness of friendship and resilience. Winner of Golden Camera and Directors’ Fortnight Audience Award at Cannes Film Festival.
What to expect
Nine-year-old Lamia is told to bake a birthday cake for Saddam Hussein. It is 1990s Iraq, sanctions have made eggs and flour luxuries, and her grandmother takes her into the city to hunt for ingredients. The search is the spine of the movie, and what they meet along the way — police arrests, counterfeit money, the loss of family — is grim, matter-of-fact, and never softened. The movie won the Golden Camera and the Directors’ Fortnight Audience Award at Cannes. It runs 105 minutes, is rated IIA, and plays in English with Chinese and English subtitles. One cinema, one district, eight screenings this week; cheapest ticket HK$60.
Trailer
Cast
- Baneen Ahmed Nayyef Lamia
- Baneen Ahmad Nayyef
- Sajad Mohamad Qasem Saeed
- Waheed Thabet Khreibat Bibi
- Rahim AlHaj Jasim
- Muthanna Malaghi Muthanna
- Ahmad Qasem Saywan Musa
- Thaer Salem Majdi
- Fatima Abouharoon Rahma
- Mohammed Rheimeh Izzat
- Rokia Alwadi Hiyam
- Abdelkarim Jasim Malik
- Maytham Mreidi Saeed's Father
- Nadia Rashak Saeed's Mother
- Ali Khalaf Clothing Seller
- Mahmoud Mazen Lazen Bus Driver's Assistant
Crew
- Director Hasan Hadi
- Writer Hasan Hadi
- Director of Photography Tudor Vladimir Panduru
- Editor Andu Radu
- Producer Leah Chen Baker
- Executive Producer Eric Roth
- Executive Producer Marielle Heller
- Executive Producer Robina Riccitiello
- Executive Producer Josh Peters
- Executive Producer Eleanor Columbus
- Executive Producer Chris Columbus
- Executive Producer Chris Stolte
- Executive Producer Heidi Stolte
- Executive Producer Peter Richards
- Executive Producer Donna Gruneich
- Executive Producer Kevin Gruneich
- Executive Producer Julia Woolley Chatwin
- Executive Producer Naia Cucukov
- Executive Producer Jonathan Gardner
- Executive Producer Veronica C. Baker
- Executive Producer Kareem Mortimer
- Executive Producer Huda Abbood Al-Radhi
- Executive Producer Ali Hadi Al-Musawi
Where to watch it
8 screenings at 1 cinema over the next week, from HK$60.
| Cinema | District | Formats | Screenings | Next | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CINEMATHEQUE | Yau Ma Tei | — | 8 | Sat 10:50 | HK$60–95 cheapest |
Prices and times are as published by the cinemas and can change. Cinema names link through to the full timetable and booking.
Streaming in Hong Kong
Subscription Netflix
Common questions
- How long is the movie?
- 105 minutes.
- What is the Hong Kong certificate?
- IIA — not suitable for children.
- What language is it in, and are there subtitles?
- English, with Chinese and English subtitles.
- Where is it showing?
- One cinema in one district, with eight screenings over the next seven days. Cheapest ticket is HK$60.
