Iraq in the 1990s. While dictator Saddam Hussein, despite hardship and scarcity, has his birthday celebrated nationwide, 9-year-old Lamia draws a daunting lot at school: she has to bake the cake for the local festivities. It's an almost impossible task, as all foodstuffs are scarce in the country. Eggs, sugar, and flour are especially so. But she has to succeed, or her family faces severe punishment. With only two days, the support of her classmate Saeed, and accompanied by her rooster Hindi, she sets off to find the ingredients in the nearest town. It's an adventurous quest through a world full of uncertainty and deprivation, but also small miracles, in which Lamia repeatedly experiences moments of humor, friendship, and hope.