In 1968, engineer Giorgio Rosa established the independent state called "The Isle of Roses" off the coast of Rimini, built on a platform outside the territorial waters, with Esperanto as the official language. The Italian authorities did not take it well because the micronation was seen as an expedient to not pay taxes on the revenues obtained thanks to the arrival of numerous tourists and curious people.
Acting
Elio Germano's exasperated optimist energy carries the whole damn republic
Production
The island set is a gorgeous tribute to 1960s utopian architecture
Writing
Balances bureaucratic satire with genuine heart surprisingly well
Director
Sydney Sibilia
Elio Germano
Giorgio Rosa
Matilda De Angelis
Gabriella
Fabrizio Bentivoglio
Franco Restivo
François Cluzet
Jean Baptiste Toma'
Tom Wlaschiha
W.R. Neumann
Luca Zingaretti
Giovanni Leone
Leonardo Lidi
Maurizio Orlandini
Fabrizio Rongione
Monsieur Carlozzi
Marco Pancrazi
Bruno Spaggiari
Andrea Pennacchi
Ulisse Rosa
Alberto Astorri
Pietro Bernardini
Christian Ginepro
Poliziotto
Frank Gerrish
Christian Stamm
The reporter
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The real Giorgio Rosa lived to see this film; he died in 2017 at age 92, still technically the only president of a nation that no longer existed.
This came out during Italy's pandemic lockdowns, making its 'what if we just... left?' energy accidentally perfect timing.
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