Theresa Goell started her career as an archaeologist with four strikes against her: she was a female, divorced, a Jew working with Muslims and hearing impaired. But with unshakeable determination, Goell abandoned the comfortable yet restricted lifestyle of her conservative Jewish family in 1933 to pursue her passion at Nemrud Dagh, an isolated mountaintop in Southwestern Turkey that had been shrouded in mystery until Goell’s pioneering excavations. Struggling with a hearing disability, her work at the site was nothing short of extraordinary, bringing roads, tourists and employment to the impoverished local population. After living most of her life as an outsider, Goell became “queen of the mountain,” gaining worldwide attention for her work and finding a new home among the Kurdish community there.

Lubell’s tender film takes the shape of an epic adventure; Goell’s saga comes to life through breathtaking National Geographic archival footage of the excavations, hundreds of family photographs and finally Goell’s stunning oral history and letters, read by acclaimed actress Tovah Feldshuh. Lovingly restoring the legacy of this pioneering Jewish woman, QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAIN offers a unique and intriguing portrait of an eccentric spirit and a true American original.