The Republic of Rose Island is an incredible true story: the dream of building a steel island off the shore of Rimini outside territorial waters to live free from restrictions and rules was transformed into reality at the end of the 1960s by the young engineer Giorgio Rosa (played by Elio Germano). The little metal island was recreated in the water tank facilities of Malta Film Studios in an enormous tank overlooking the sea which gave the feeling of being surrounded by water. Adding even greater sense of realism, the island was surrounded by blue sky thanks to approx. 1 km of blue screen.
In contrast, Rimini is real with people moving around, in particular on lungomare Tintori where two scenes were shot: when Giorgio and Maurizio, eating piadinas, watch a cargo ship sail by and realise that they can float the tubes that support the island; and the scene that precedes the destruction of the island when journalists gather on the shorefront (Grand Hotel behind them). Other scenes set on the coast were shot either in Malta or on the shoreline of Lazio: e.g., the flashback that reveals Neumann’s (Tom Wlaschiha) past situated amidst the beach clubs of the Riviera Romagnola was actually shot in in the ristorante Tirreno on the Anzio seafront, the sign changed because Rimini stands on the Adriatic not Tyrrhenian Sea and a rotunda for the dance was added. The scene when Giorgio leaves the restaurant after lunching with his parents and encounters the SID agents was shot in Circeo.
Giorgio’s dream is first sparked in Bologna where piazza Santo Stefano, piazza Verdi and the university area are all recreated in a 1960s-like atmosphere, with vintage cars and posters echoing the political struggle of 1968 provided by the Fondazione Gramsci. Giorgio is celebrating his graduation in a locale in Bologna, actually the former Peroni beer factory in piazza Santi Apostoli, Rome, when he meets Gabriella (Matilda De Angelis) and offers her a lift. While he mulls over his idea, Giorgio works at the Imola Circuit, the only track used is the Sagittario International Circuit in Latina (the rest was a set).
Once completed, the independent state still requires official status which Giorgio requests from the European Council in a snow-clad Strasburg: the exteriors are Cogne in Valle d’Aosta while the interiors were shot in Rome: in Salon of the EUR and in the headquarters of the Associazione dei mutilati ed invalidi di guerra in piazza Cavour, where the process takes place. The scene where a postman delivers his request for the recognition of Rose Island’s independence to the UN Headquarters was not shot in New York but on the square in front of the Palaghiaccio in Marino, just outside Rome.
Rose Island creates a dangerous precedent and is consequently blocked by the Roman power hubs, a world that is shown as a direct contrast to the island: closed in on itself in smoky rooms with darkened windows. The garden of Villa d’Este in Tivoli provides the background for a summit breakfast between State and Church.
“The destruction of the Republic of Rose Island – reads the end titles – is the first and only war of aggression carried out by the Republic of Italy. To avoid this happening again, the United Nations moved the limit of territorial waters from 6 to 11 nautical miles.” In 2009, parts of the structure were found off the shore of Rimini, survivors of that world that lived for only 55 days.
The Republic of Rose Island is an incredible true story: the dream of building a steel island off the shore of Rimini outside territorial waters to live free from restrictions and rules was transformed into reality at the end of the 1960s by the young engineer Giorgio Rosa (played by Elio Germano). The little metal island was recreated in the water tank facilities of Malta Film Studios in an enormous tank overlooking the sea which gave the feeling of being surrounded by water. Adding even greater sense of realism, the island was surrounded by blue sky thanks to approx. 1 km of blue screen.
In contrast, Rimini is real with people moving around, in particular on lungomare Tintori where two scenes were shot: when Giorgio and Maurizio, eating piadinas, watch a cargo ship sail by and realise that they can float the tubes that support the island; and the scene that precedes the destruction of the island when journalists gather on the shorefront (Grand Hotel behind them). Other scenes set on the coast were shot either in Malta or on the shoreline of Lazio: e.g., the flashback that reveals Neumann’s (Tom Wlaschiha) past situated amidst the beach clubs of the Riviera Romagnola was actually shot in in the ristorante Tirreno on the Anzio seafront, the sign changed because Rimini stands on the Adriatic not Tyrrhenian Sea and a rotunda for the dance was added. The scene when Giorgio leaves the restaurant after lunching with his parents and encounters the SID agents was shot in Circeo.
Giorgio’s dream is first sparked in Bologna where piazza Santo Stefano, piazza Verdi and the university area are all recreated in a 1960s-like atmosphere, with vintage cars and posters echoing the political struggle of 1968 provided by the Fondazione Gramsci. Giorgio is celebrating his graduation in a locale in Bologna, actually the former Peroni beer factory in piazza Santi Apostoli, Rome, when he meets Gabriella (Matilda De Angelis) and offers her a lift. While he mulls over his idea, Giorgio works at the Imola Circuit, the only track used is the Sagittario International Circuit in Latina (the rest was a set).
Once completed, the independent state still requires official status which Giorgio requests from the European Council in a snow-clad Strasburg: the exteriors are Cogne in Valle d’Aosta while the interiors were shot in Rome: in Salon of the EUR and in the headquarters of the Associazione dei mutilati ed invalidi di guerra in piazza Cavour, where the process takes place. The scene where a postman delivers his request for the recognition of Rose Island’s independence to the UN Headquarters was not shot in New York but on the square in front of the Palaghiaccio in Marino, just outside Rome.
Rose Island creates a dangerous precedent and is consequently blocked by the Roman power hubs, a world that is shown as a direct contrast to the island: closed in on itself in smoky rooms with darkened windows. The garden of Villa d’Este in Tivoli provides the background for a summit breakfast between State and Church.
“The destruction of the Republic of Rose Island – reads the end titles – is the first and only war of aggression carried out by the Republic of Italy. To avoid this happening again, the United Nations moved the limit of territorial waters from 6 to 11 nautical miles.” In 2009, parts of the structure were found off the shore of Rimini, survivors of that world that lived for only 55 days.
In Spring 1968, a young, visionary engineer – Giorgio Rosa – built a steel island outside the limits of territorial waters off the shore of Rimini and proclaimed a state of independence. There would be no rules: individual liberty as the consummate truth.
