My Favorite Cake (2024)
Throughout the history of the art form, cinema has been used as a tool of rebellion as it can be used to show the truth despite whatever narrative a restrictive force wants to create or present. In the name of the truth, filmmakers risk their freedoms and safety in the spirit of bravery and artistic integrity that is awe-inspiring. One of these situations can be seen in Behtash Sanaeeha and Maryam Moghaddam with their newest feature, My Favourite Cake, which screens as part of the 2024 AFI Film Festival. Already finding conflict with the repressive Iranian government and Islamic forces for their previous feature Ballad of a White Cow, the pairing returns with a bold new effort looking at a 70-year-old woman named Mahin (Lily Farhadpour). Since the death of her husband and disconnect with her daughter, Mahin lives alone and feels her life passing her by without purpose or meaningful direction. This is until, however, Mahin befriends a lonely old man named Faramarz (Esmail Mehrabi) with the two building a connection and hopefully a way forward.
It is impossible to separate My Favourite Cake from the social and political foundation it is building off of. Under Iran's strict Islamic government, women have been stripped of their freedoms and femininity. There is no allowance of agency, style, or personality for women to express themselves if they feel connected to these ideas of presentation and beauty. Mahin, who has seen first-hand the evolution of these conservative rules throughout her lifetime change the world around her, fights against these restrictions and fosters a sense of courage in the other women she meets. From getting in the way of police trying to arrest young women for not having their hijabs on correctly to secretly putting on extravagant makeup alone in her apartment that would be looked down upon in public, Mahin's small actions speak not only to a rebellious side within the character but also connects to larger struggles of the culture she lives in.
Of course, this also creates a rich conversation when the real-world consequences of the film are pulled in. The filmmakers were put in a travel ban and were refused the ability to leave the country both for the film's post-production and the film's premiere. They were raided by police and it was threatened they would be arrested. Similar attacks have been waged against multiple filmmakers who create narratives that challenge or question the rules and laws of the country, an issue that led filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof (A Man of Integrity, There Is No Evil ,The Seed of the Sacred Fig) to flee the country and live in exile due to fear of government prosecution. Just as Mahin refuses to be silent and simply comply, neither do these filmmakers which has to be respected and celebrated as a tremendous showcase of the bravery and power of these artists.
Beyond the social and political context of the film, My Favourite Cake also speaks to universal themes of loneliness, feeling like one's glory days have passed, and the need for authentic and meaningful human connection. The soul and journey of Mahin are incredibly rich with Farhadpour's performance shining brightly in its nuance and emotional ability. As Mahin sits with her emotions and frustrations, Farhadpour's performance displays worthy complexity that sneaks up on the audience and is undoubtedly effective. Even for those who can not directly relate to Mahin's context or life experience, there is a human truth that lives within her character that is impossible not to resonate with or be moved by.
This builds to the third act which gives a needed segment of levity as Mahin finds the connection she is looking for in Faramarz. Finally, Mahin has someone to spend time with, to embrace, and to feel excited about. The passion My Favourite Cake has for human connection and the power of love is infectious and even further proves the skills of the filmmakers behind the project as they can flawlessly walk the tightrope between tragedy and hope. It is notable, however, that the ending of the film takes a sharp left turn that is going to be incredibly divisive for audiences. While it is impossible to argue that the emotional weight of this choice doesn't hit, it is also difficult to fully define the purpose of this choice that feels somewhat hollow, going for the shock without having the substance behind the choice. For a feature that is so controlled and focused, this is the one point where it feels like the film possibly pushes too far, a fate that will ultimately be individual depending on each audience member and how the ending impacts their takeaways from the project.
Both looking blindly at what the film explicitly provides in its runtime and especially when the wider social context is taken into account, My Favourite Cake is one of the best films of the year. Incredibly emotional and well made, the film brings personality and innocence to a needed tale of rebellion and not losing yourself in the face of adversity and tragedy. The film brings audiences on an entertaining and heartbreaking story that is equally engaging as it is meaningful.
It is impossible to separate My Favourite Cake from the social and political foundation it is building off of. Under Iran's strict Islamic government, women have been stripped of their freedoms and femininity. There is no allowance of agency, style, or personality for women to express themselves if they feel connected to these ideas of presentation and beauty. Mahin, who has seen first-hand the evolution of these conservative rules throughout her lifetime change the world around her, fights against these restrictions and fosters a sense of courage in the other women she meets. From getting in the way of police trying to arrest young women for not having their hijabs on correctly to secretly putting on extravagant makeup alone in her apartment that would be looked down upon in public, Mahin's small actions speak not only to a rebellious side within the character but also connects to larger struggles of the culture she lives in.
Of course, this also creates a rich conversation when the real-world consequences of the film are pulled in. The filmmakers were put in a travel ban and were refused the ability to leave the country both for the film's post-production and the film's premiere. They were raided by police and it was threatened they would be arrested. Similar attacks have been waged against multiple filmmakers who create narratives that challenge or question the rules and laws of the country, an issue that led filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof (A Man of Integrity, There Is No Evil ,The Seed of the Sacred Fig) to flee the country and live in exile due to fear of government prosecution. Just as Mahin refuses to be silent and simply comply, neither do these filmmakers which has to be respected and celebrated as a tremendous showcase of the bravery and power of these artists.
Beyond the social and political context of the film, My Favourite Cake also speaks to universal themes of loneliness, feeling like one's glory days have passed, and the need for authentic and meaningful human connection. The soul and journey of Mahin are incredibly rich with Farhadpour's performance shining brightly in its nuance and emotional ability. As Mahin sits with her emotions and frustrations, Farhadpour's performance displays worthy complexity that sneaks up on the audience and is undoubtedly effective. Even for those who can not directly relate to Mahin's context or life experience, there is a human truth that lives within her character that is impossible not to resonate with or be moved by.
This builds to the third act which gives a needed segment of levity as Mahin finds the connection she is looking for in Faramarz. Finally, Mahin has someone to spend time with, to embrace, and to feel excited about. The passion My Favourite Cake has for human connection and the power of love is infectious and even further proves the skills of the filmmakers behind the project as they can flawlessly walk the tightrope between tragedy and hope. It is notable, however, that the ending of the film takes a sharp left turn that is going to be incredibly divisive for audiences. While it is impossible to argue that the emotional weight of this choice doesn't hit, it is also difficult to fully define the purpose of this choice that feels somewhat hollow, going for the shock without having the substance behind the choice. For a feature that is so controlled and focused, this is the one point where it feels like the film possibly pushes too far, a fate that will ultimately be individual depending on each audience member and how the ending impacts their takeaways from the project.
Both looking blindly at what the film explicitly provides in its runtime and especially when the wider social context is taken into account, My Favourite Cake is one of the best films of the year. Incredibly emotional and well made, the film brings personality and innocence to a needed tale of rebellion and not losing yourself in the face of adversity and tragedy. The film brings audiences on an entertaining and heartbreaking story that is equally engaging as it is meaningful.