In 1990s Iraq under President Saddam Hussein, after the invasion of Kuwait, people struggle to survive during the period of economic sanctions by western countries that followed.

Nine-year-old Lamia has been selected to prepare a cake to celebrate the President's birthday, a compulsory task with potential punishment at school if she fails. In a landscape of fear and scarcity, where basic ingredients are expensive and nearly impossible to find, Lamia sets out on a determined journey through the big city in search of eggs, flour, and sugar, accompanied by her grandmother, her loyal friend Saeed, and her pet rooster Hindi.

Certificate: 12A