MANILA, Philippines?Working on Olaf de Fleur?s ?The Amazing Truth about Queen Raquela? brought its lead actress, Filipino transvestite Raquela Rios, all the way to a fish factory in Iceland.

?She had to learn how to pack frozen fish. She could not understand what the manager was saying so she kept making mistakes,? production manager Beverly Tañedo told Inquirer Entertainment.

Raquela is one of four chat mates who inspired De Fleur, an Icelander, to write a story on the struggles of Filipino transvestites.

?I met Oli (De Fleur?s nickname) in a chat room. He said he was curious about my life. Of his four transvestite chat mates, he said my story was the most interesting,? Raquela said.

To make the film even more interesting, Raquela, who lives in Cebu, had to reenact a car accident and a few touching scenes in a hospital there.

There were scenes shot in France, too, Tañedo added.

?Queen Raquela,? about a transvestite who dreams of escaping the streets of Cebu for a fairy-tale life in Paris, will have its world premiere at the Panorama/Main Program section of the Berlin International Film Festival in February.

?The life of transvestites in a Catholic country like ours is not easy. Not all communities here accept them with open arms,? said Tañedo. ?In fact, we had difficulty looking for a place to shoot the hospital scene. Owners of private hospitals were wary when told that this was the story of a ?ladyboy.??

Arleen Cuevas, line producer, met De Fleur at the Berlin International Film Festival two years ago. Cuevas formed De Fleur?s all-Filipino production crew comprised of Tañedo, cinematographer Butch Maddul and production designer Alexis Yap.

First-time actors Olivia Galudo and Brax Villa play supporting roles.

?Raquela is like any other Filipino who hopes for a better life abroad. The question is: Will a life abroad give her a happy ending?? said Cuevas. ?While the film is fun and witty, it also tells us we?re not so different from Raquela and her kind.?