The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela

The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela is a 2008 film directed by Olaf de Fleur Johannesson. The production is a collaborative effort involving the Philippines, Iceland, Thailand, and France. The film, which has a runtime of 80 minutes, utilizes a narrative style that blends documentary and fiction elements to follow the life of its protagonist.

Plot

The story centers on Raquela, a trans woman living in Cebu City, Philippines, who aspires to move to Paris. Seeking to improve her circumstances, she transitions from sex work to the internet pornography industry. Her career path leads her to connect with individuals such as Valerie, a trans woman based in Iceland, and Michael, who operates the website where Raquela works. The narrative follows her journey from the Philippines to Iceland, eventually leading to a planned meeting in Paris.

Production

The film was written by a team including Benedikt Johannesson, Olaf de Fleur Johannesson, Rune Kippervik, Stefan C. Schaefer, and Thor Thorsteinsson. The cinematography was handled by Butch Maddul. The film features a multilingual dialogue track, incorporating Icelandic, Visayan, English, and Thai.