On this episode of Cinema Callback, Andy and Michael exchange voice notes about This Magnificent Cake! (2018), the stop-motion anthology film from Marc James Roels and Emma De Swaef. Set in 19th-century Africa under European colonial rule, the film tells five interconnected stories—ranging from absurd to tragic—exploring greed, power, and human fragility.

We discuss: How can animation capture the brutality of colonial history in ways live-action might not? Does the film’s surreal, textured stop-motion style soften the darkness—or sharpen it? And why does this overlooked gem deserve a place in conversations about political cinema?

Whether you’re discovering This Magnificent Cake! for the first time or revisiting it with fresh eyes, this episode blends sharp insight with the casual charm of two friends trading late-night thoughts.