Set in the 1990s, young Lamia (Baneen Ahmad Nayyef) lives under Saddam Hussein’s regime with her grandmother, Bibi (Waheeda Thabet) and her pet rooster. Hussein’s 50th birthday is two days away, and every year, one child from each class is selected to make a birthday cake, no matter their circumstances.

Lamia, Bibi and the rooster live in abject poverty, but her name is selected. And what follows is a well-shot coming-of-age tale that boasts some fantastic locations, and a talented young lead actress.

Lamia and her friend Saeed (Sajad Mohamad Qasem) are soon prowling the city for the ingredients to make a cake. But there are a lot of complications. Saeed’s father is arrested for theft, Bibi falls ill and is hospitalized, and it seems that anything that can go wrong, will go wrong for Lamia.

The President’s Cake is a gently told story set against the brutality of Hussein’s grip on Iraq, and the strain it put on the people of that country who were just trying to go from day to day.

There are some well-crafted moments throughout the film, but the emotional resonance of the film’s last shot of Lamia will still with you. It’s a tale of innocence lost, the will to go on, the strength of family and friendship, and the lasting impact of poverty on a nation.

Nayyef is delightful, embodying the curious, and strong Lamia who through the course of two days, is faced with life-changing events.

The President’s Cake screens one last time, tomorrow night at 6:45pm at Scotiabank.