While people across 1990s Iraq struggle to survive the war and food shortages, the President requires each school in the country to prepare a cake to celebrate his birthday. Despite her efforts to avoid getting picked, 9-year-old Lamia is chosen among her classmates. The young girl must now use her wits and imagination to gather ingredients and prepare the mandatory cake, as refusing could mean imprisonment or even death. Highlighting pastoral beauty, the film features some of the strongest child performances of the decade. “It’s difficult to think of another debut that combines such crowd-pleasing sensibilities, political resonance, and cinematic sweep” –Rory O’Connor, The Film Stage. Winner of both the Camera d’Or and an audience award at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. Iraq’s submission for Best International Feature of the 98th Academy Awards.