15 response slips were returned. The breakdown, and comments were:

• ‘Excellent’: 3 votes
  • As always poor and children who suffer the most.
  • Thank you for a challenging film
• ‘Very Good’: 12 votes
  • Not sure about the Guardian’s “Sugary” review. What it means to survive in a country under international sanctions (as usual, it’s the ordinary people, not the narcistic President, who suffer) – 100+ mins of the exploitation of women and children & futile bartering.
  • Very touching. Lamia’s resilience in a life so tragic.
  • Well made. A view of life we don’t know much about. Good acting & nice music.
  • The child actors were amazing. Good film.
  • Not sure why it was seen as cream cakeish! Relentless & absorbing & a depiction of a horrendous collapsing society.
  • Showed the culture well, and the horrors of war. Amazing young actors.
  • Clever to use the cake as a device to explore all the ingredients that make up Iraqi society. Fascinating to see how such a different society works: yet the outside forces affecting it are as criminal as ever.
  • A fascinating glimpse into the privations of life in Iraq under Saddam’s autocratic rule. An engaging performance from Lamia, eclipsed arguably only by that cockerel!
  • A charming film: a glimpse into so many lives, and the innocence of childhood. Lamia in future boat person’ rescue by the lifeboat off Dover one day!?
  • Suitable reminder of what we supported.
  • Great start to the season – loved the rooster.
  • What real poverty, stolen innocence & no future looks like. Fantastic cinematography.
• ‘Good’: 7 votes:
  • Very thought provoking film.
  • An engaging and authentic film! Deeply moving.
  • Very thought provoking – realise how children suffer in war. Are sanctions justified?
  • ? Genocide. Who was doing the killing? USA or Saddam?
• ‘Satisfactory’: 0 votes
• ‘Poor’: 0 votes

You can download the comments by clicking on the following link:
Feedback for ‘The President’s Cake’

We are always interested to receive any additional comments people may have on this film and welcome all contributions to this forum. If you did not leave comments after the screening, but still wish to do so, you can leave them here.

Next screening:

Our next film will be “Our Land” on Monday 19 October, preceded by a brief AGM.