“The President’s Cake”, interview with director Hasan Hadi

With his debut feature, “The president’s Cake“, Iraqi writer/director Hasan Hadi won the Camera d’Or and the Director’s fortnight’s audience award in Cannes.

Now his film is traveling around the world, landing the Zurich film festival’s program before heading south, to the Alice nella città’s competition in Rome, Italy.

The film is a fable like realistic tale about a nine year old girl journey to gather ingredients for the mandatory cake to celebrate President Saddam Hussein’s birthday during the long UN sanctions period of his regime in the early 1990s.

A Personal and Political Story of Childhood Under Saddam Hussein’s regime

The President’s Cake blends realism with fable, crafted from the filmmaker’s personal childhood experiences during Saddam Hussein’s regime. Set in a majestic marshland, the film recounts the paradox of having to craft a birthday cake in a period of estreme poverty and government restrictions that could turn ordinary desires into risky acts of defiance.

Balancing Dark Humor and Magical Realism

Before his film’s premiere at the Zurich Film Festival, the director invited the audience to feel free to laugh and don’t be shy to be entertained as the film, intentionally adopts a tone of dark comedy and magical realism, inspired by Italian neorealism classics like “Bicycle Thieves“. This approach allows audiences to engage with a serious story through accessible storytelling, emphasizing the universality of childhood innocence amidst political turmoil. The film’s visual language, particularly the majestic marsh landscapes, contributes to this surreal yet authentic ambiance.

Authentic Performances with Non-Actors

Anybody who has been in the film business long enough knows the rules, when directing a film, the most difficult thing is to work with children and animals. Considering that little Lamia is carrying her rooster friend Hindi all the time with her, along her journey, Hasan Hadi chose to face adversities with his debut feature. “I had a mentor who said, there are five forbiddens, especially in your 1st feature: working with non-actors, children, animals, crowds and on water. I have all of them in this feature.” confirms the direct.

Working with non-professional actors and children posed significant challenges, but ultimately enriched the film’s authenticity. The cast’s natural performances, achieved through workshops focused on life experiences rather than acting techniques, brought genuine depth to the characters. The director emphasized flexibility and understanding, creating a compelling portrayal of resilience and human dignity.

Global Resonance and Future Prospects

Having won the Camera d’Or at Cannes and received international recognition, “The President’s Cake” continues its festival journey. The film’s universal themes like poverty, dignity, childhood love, resonate beyond Iraq’s borders. With producers like Chris Columbus and Marielle Heller supporting the project, the film underscores the rising importance of independent cinema in addressing global issues through compelling storytelling.

 

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