Some movies leave you with a bittersweet ache—beautiful yet pathetic. ‘My Favourite Cake’ was one of those for me. Hours after watching it, its sadness still clings to me, making it hard to focus. Maybe it's the winter blues, but the resolution struck deep, pulling me into an intense melancholy.

Watching the exposition wasn’t all bleak, but a subtle sadness lingered. The protagonist, Mahin (Lili Farhadpour), is a 70-year-old widow living alone while her children are in Europe. Struggling with severe sleep issues, she wakes at noon after sleeping at odd hours. Her day begins with tea and a cigarette.

Afterwards, Mahin waters her lush, green yard on a bright, sunny day. Birds chirp, and the scene exudes warmth and happiness. Directors Maryam Moghadam and Behtash Sanaeeha masterfully use visual storytelling, with warm, natural lighting highlighting joyful moments and cold, muted tones reflecting Mahin’s loneliness and inner turmoil.

As the story unfolds, the mood shifts, deepening the sense of Mahin's solitude. Her once-monthly girls’ dinner now happens yearly, and conversations revolve around ageing, illnesses, and men. Sensing Mahin's loneliness, her friends suggest she find an (old) boyfriend to keep her company.

Deep down, Mahin longs for someone to share life’s simplicities with—an (old) boyfriend to fill her heart and home’s emptiness. She dreams of having someone to talk to while cooking, someone she could love and cherish.

The film subtly reveals her inner vulnerabilities. Her longing for companionship is portrayed with great sensitivity. She doesn’t explicitly state her desires but conveys them through fleeting expressions—a wistful glance at an empty chair, pausing while setting the table for one, or the deliberate care she puts into baking her favourite orange blossom cake. These small, poignant moments are emotional and offer glimpses of her pitiful inner world.

She begins frequenting coffee shops and parks, engaging with the world around her in ways she hasn't done in years. This exploration is not just about seeking companionship; it represents a reclamation of her identity and desires.

While alone at a restaurant, Mahin notices Faramarz, played by Esmaeel Mehrabi, a kind-looking taxi driver enjoying his meal alone. Intrigued, she follows him to his taxi stand after their meals. This moment marks the beginning of their connection as she boldly invites him into her life.

Mahin invites Faramarz to her home under the pretext of needing a taxi ride. The restaurant setting, often associated with routine and mundanity, becomes Mahin’s transformation space. Her decision to initiate a connection with Faramarz signals her refusal to fade into the background of her own life.

When she says it's her first time inviting a man to her house, Faramarz replies, “It’s wonderful. Many men wouldn't dare. How can they know if a woman likes them? Women can propose, too.”

They share homemade wine and reminisce about their youth before the Islamic Revolution, indulging in laughter and flirtation that rekindles their spirits. The film features heartwarming scenes of Mahin and her companion conversing and dancing together, moments sure to bring a smile to anyone's face.

They also discuss death, with Faramarz admitting his greatest fear is dying alone. His words echo a universal fear of solitude, especially in old age. Even in old age, this longing for companionship and intimacy lies at the heart of the film’s narrative.

Watching these lonely souls find comfort in each other’s company reminded me that love and connection can bloom at any age. It gave me hope that even at seventy, with wrinkles and all, one can still be romantically lovable.

It was a visual delight to see Mahin emerge from her shell, no longer just an old woman but someone rediscovering love and joy. Her evening with Faramarz becomes a turning point as she embraces pleasures she had been denied for thirty years.

As the film progresses, the tone darkens. Mahin, who often baked an orange blossom cake with vanilla cream, hoping to share it with someone special, finally prepares it for Faramarz. The cake is ready, and she brings it to him. However, when she tries to wake him, he doesn’t stir. She calls his name repeatedly, but there is no response.

Faramarz unexpectedly dies in her home, leaving Mahin devastated. Watching her cry was heart-wrenching, a pain no ointment could heal. The loss hits her hard, shattering the happiness she had just started to embrace. She weeps over the cake she had baked for him, once a symbol of hope and connection, now a poignant emblem of her grief and loneliness.

This movie is a reminder that love and companionship are not just luxuries but essential elements of human existence.

My Favourite Cake

Director: Maryam Moghadam, Behtash Sanaeeha

Cast: Lili Farhadpour, Esmaeel MehrabiMansoore, Ilkhani

Duration: 96 minutes

Year: 2024

Language: Persian