Audience reaction to “The President’s Cake”

Posted on September 22, 2026 by Bob Foale

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.

Our Next Presentation: The President’s Cake (Monday 19 September)

Posted on September 19, 2026 by Bob Foale

Chelmsford Theatre Studio, Fairfield Road @ 8PM (Doors open 7:15)

While people across 1990’s Iraq struggle to survive, 9-year old Lamia has been selected by her teacher to prepare a cake to celebrate the President’s birthday. In a landscape of fear and scarcity, where basic ingredients are nearly impossible to find, Lamia sets out on a determined journey throughout the big city in search of eggs, flour, and sugar. Accompanied by her grandmother, her loyal friend Saeed, and her pet rooster Hindi, she navigates vendors and police officers along the way.

Drama • Cert: 12A • Year: 2025
Language: Arabic • 1 Hour 45 Minutes

Click here for additional information.

Our previous presentation:

Audience reaction to “The Room Next Door”

15 response slips were returned. The breakdown, and comments were: Download the comments by clicking on the following link:Feedback for ‘The Room Next Door’ We are always interested to receive any additional comments people may have on this film and … Continue reading →

Source:

May we encourage you to complete the Response Slips following the showing of each film – feedback (both positive and negative) helps us to decide what types of films to show in future seasons. In addition, you can leave comments for any of the films we have shown via the Discussion page.

Message from Peter Bunyan

Posted on July 26, 2026 by Bob Foale

Dear Members and Friends of Chelmsford Film Club

Another season of films is approaching, starting on Monday 21 September. My thanks go to our Booking Secretary and Website Manager Bob Foale for selecting the films and booking them. Looking at the programme (attached below), I hope you will agree with me that it is a varied and attractive one, in keeping with our core policy of showing independent arthous world cinema. There is a documentary – Our Land – and a ‘feature’ of two films focussing on Jean-Luc Godard’s classic Breathless (A Bout de Souffe), amongst others.

We are keeping the subscription the same as for the last two seasons. Membership is still £75, representing excellent value at £7.50 to see a film. Guests are welcome at £12.50. Agai, each paid-up member will receive two Guest Discount Tickets to use at their discretion, allowing a guest admission for £7.50. And no advertising or trailers!

However, as I pointed out at last year’s AGM, the Club’s resources are at a critical point, virtually all its reserves now being used to hire The Studio for this coming season. It is absolutely vital that we sustain our membership at last year’s level, and even increase it, to ensure we can pay for the screening licences for ten films and, hopefully, be able to plan for yet another season in 2027/28. I do hope all of you will be in a position to support the Club for this coming season and do everything you can to encourage others to do so. In a few weeks’ time, Malcolm will be sending you full details on how to join.

Our first, inaugural, programme for CFC was in 1988/89. It is difficult to believe that we have been showing films at the Studio (The Cramphorn, as it was) for nearly 40 years! I know that many of you will remember those early days and I am deeply grateful for all the support the Club has had since then.

Best wishes

Peter Bunyan
CFC Chairperson

CFC Programme