Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela, The

Raquela is a transsexual, or lady boy, from the Philippines, who dreams of escaping the streets of Cebu City for a fairy tale life in Paris. In order to make her dreams come true, she turns from prostitution toward the more lucrative business of Internet porn. Her success as a porn star brings new friends, including Valerie, a lady boy in Iceland, and Michael, the owner of the website Raquela works for. Valerie helps Raquela get as far as Iceland. From there, Michael offers her a rendezvous in Paris. Will Paris be everything she dreamed of? And will Michael turn out to be her Prince Charming?

Crew

Directed by

Olaf de Fleur
Screenplay

Olaf de Fleur
Director of Photography

Butch Maddul
Editor

Olaf de Fleur, Dagur Kári
Music Composer

Pavel E. Smid
Producer

Olaf de Fleur, Arleen Cuevas, Helgi Sverrisson, Stefan C. Schaefer
Advisor

Þór Þorsteinsson, My Thordal
Art Direction

Ómar Örn Hauksson
Associate Producer

Kristín Andrea Þórðadóttir, Guðni Páll Sæmundsson, Birgitte Skov, Claus Thobo-Carlsen
Camera

Rune Kippervik, Olaf de Fleur
Executive Producer

Baltasar Kormákur
Location Manager

Nadia Lamarkbi, Rey Palatunon
Production Assistant

Sigurður Sigurbjörnsson, Fatina Boumedienne, May Flower, Mike Devlin
Production Coordinator

Ragnar Santos, Benedikt Jóhannesson
Production Designer

Alexis Yap
Production Manager

Beverly Tanedo
Publicist

Vignir Jón Vignisson
Sound

Gunnar Árnason
Stunt Coordinator

Mike Stone

About the film

Type

Feature Film
National Premiere Date

October 10, 2008, Berlin Film Festival
Genre

Drama
Length

80 min.
Language

English, Icelandic, Tagalog
Original Title

Hinn undursamlegi sannleikur um Raquelu drottningu
International Title

Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela, The
Production Year

2008
Production Countries

Iceland
IMDB

Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela, The
Icelandic Film Centre Grant

Yes
Production Format

HDcam
Aspect Ratio

2.35:1
Color

Yes
Sound

Dolby
Screening format and subtitles

35mm film without sub. - Betacam SP with English sub. - HDCAM with English sub.

Cast

Main Cast

Raquela Rios, Stefan C. Schaefer, Vala Grand, Brax Villa, Via Galudo
Supporting Cast

May Rose, Markus Kalberer, Ren Christian Balasabas, Robert Bell, Pollar, Jane, Natasha, Pam, Archie Modeduillo, Alexis Yap, Amor, Edith Galudo, Lovely Susan Mana, Robert Nino, Hrönn Bergsdóttir, Erin Greenwell, Eggert H. Snorrason, Reynaloo Palatulon, Luis Labandero, Ingibjörg Sigurðardóttir, Fabien Houssaye, Tootsie, Margrét Eggertsdóttir

Company Credits

Production Company

Poppoli Films
Supported by

Nordic Film & TV Fond, Icelandic Film Centre

Festivals

2016
DKF Jubilee Meagron 50th Year‘s Anniversary
2014
Göteborg International Film Festival
2011
Film Forum Zadar International Film Festival
2009
Moscow International Film Festival
2008
Cannes Film Festival - Market screennings
2008
Warsaw International Film Festival
2008
Scanorama
2008
Raindance International Film Festival
2008
Novi Sad Film Festival
2008
Kuala Lumpur International Film Festival
2008
Hamburg International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
2008
Cinemanila International Film Festival
2008
Calgary International Film Festival
2008
Berlin International Film Festival - Award: Teddy Award for best picture.
2008
Stockholm International Film Festival
2008
The London Transgender Film Festival
2008
Thessanoliki International Film Festival
2008
Copenhagen Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
2008
QueerDoc Sydney Australia
2008
Melbourne International Film Festival
2008
IFF Artfilm Slovakia
2008
Karlovy Vary
2008
Cinemanila International Film Festival - Award: Grand Jury Prize.
2008
New York Lesbian and Gay Film Festival - Award: Best Foreign Narrative Feature. Vanguard Award.

Releases

Poppoli ehf, 2009 - DVD