Plot

An idealistic engineer builds his own island off the Italian coast and declares it a nation, drawing the world's attention. Values are tested when the Italian Government declares him an enemy, but to change the world risks must be taken.

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 micro nation was seen as an expedient to not pay taxes on the revenues obtained thanks to the arrival of numerous tourists and curious people.—yusufpiskin

Giorgio Rosa (Elio Germano) approaches the Council of Europe (In Nov 1968) (represented by Jean Baptiste Toma (François Cluzet)) with a petition to protect and recognize his Island, which he later elaborates was built by him and his friend Maurizio Orlandini (Leonardo Lidi). The film flashes back a year to show how that after passing the state engineering exam, he met with his ex-girlfriend (with whom he had been for 3 years), Gabriella (Matilda De Angelis), in Bologna (They broke up when Giorgio was trying to fix her father's TV during the Italy vs Russia match, and it imploded and made her father blind). He offers to drive her home and they are stopped by the police in his self-made car (he used his grandmother's couch as the interior), which has no license plate and wasn't registered (Giorgio didn't have a driving license and was barred from ever piloting a plane). He is jailed for the night and bailed out by his father Ulisse Rosa (Andrea Pennacchi).

Gabriella is a teacher of International law. She is up for tenure in 6 months and is very angry that Giorgio's antics got her arrested and fingerprinted. She has a criminal record now. She tells Giorgio that he only builds things that get him arrested and he is no genius.

Three months later, he is working for motorbike racer Bruno Spaggiari (Marco Pancrazi) as an engineer when he sees a billboard showing an oil platform. Inspired, he convinces Maurizio who is tired of working in his father's company, to help him build an island just outside the territorial waters and legal jurisdiction of Italy, where everyone is free to do as they want. With money that Maurizio has stolen from his father (700,000 lire) and innovative solutions (They observe how other offshore platforms are built underwater) to reduce the cost of the materials (instead of sand, then use steel) (They don't have a cargo ship to move steel, so they make it hollow so it floats on water and can be taken there easily. Once the hollow steel pole reaches the location, they fill it with water and it sinks to the bottom upright, making a pillar as desired), they are successful in building an island of their own (with a steel pillar base of 400 sq m) with a supply of fresh water (they got a drill to look for a source of fresh water).

The first night Giorgio spends on the island, it is hit by a massive storm. A cast-away welder Pietro Bernardini (Alberto Astorri) with his boat asks for shelter during a storm and becomes the first resident.

Club promoter Wolfgang Rudy Neumann (Tom Wlaschiha), a stateless past-German (he was sent to Remini, Italy during WW II to defend the Gothic line. He ran away from the German camp when he saw the beach and knew what he wanted to do in life. After the war, he was charged with treason and his German citizenship was revoked) who is a PR manager for a beach club (he is ill-treated by the owner who makes him clean toilets of the club. He can't open his own club as they only give licenses to Italians), visits the island. He starts to promote the island as a tourist destination (They call it the new steel Island) and more people begin to visit (they attracted people from all over Europe), attracted by the freedom it represents from the established states. Rudy renames it to Rose Island. The Island attracted a lot of media attention.

Franca (Violetta Zironi), a 19-year-old pregnant girl (who had once slept with Rudy), offers to become the barmaid of the 400-square meter island's sole bar. Gabriella, who had come to the island to tell Giorgio of her pending marriage, claims that it's not a nation, and is nothing more than a disco. Giorgio argues that the island, now named Rose Island, has its own language, currency, postal system and other amenities including a citizenship process that is soon to be started. Gabriella points out that there is no official recognition of it.

Rudy wants to start water sports on the island, but Maurizio wants to use it as a gambling hub (something that is illegal on the mainland).

A letter is written to the United Nations Headquarters in New York, who contact the Italian government (Italian President Giovanni Leone (Luca Zingaretti) & Minister of Internal Affairs Franco Restivo (Fabrizio Bentivoglio)). Franco had sent 2 of his officers (Including Giacinto Piazza (Riccardo Marzi)) to the island, but they weren't heard from in 40 hours. Giovanni is worried as the Secretary General of the UN himself called to Alert Franco about the situation. Giorgio's father disapproves of this action as he thinks Giorgio is involved in illegal activities. Cardinal Emanuele Nunziante (Giulio Farnese) meets Giovanni and shows him media pics of half-naked girls on the Island. He says that this needs to stop else the pope is going to be very angry. Plus, Italy receives many applications to relinquish citizenship in favor of Rose Island, who has started issuing passports. As the island's president, Giorgio is pressured by the government to relinquish control (they offer him 2 beach club permits on Remini to relinquish his Island). He refuses. In retaliation, the Italian authorities arrange for his father to be fired from his job. Other members of the island are also made offers to leave, which they accept. Giorgio's father advises him to stay on and fight. Giorgio approaches Gabriella for advice. Gabriella advises Giorgio to approach the Council of Europe for help and accepted his case for further investigation. Toma is astonished at how much Giorgio has achieved and is certain history will be made, whatever may be the outcome.

The Italian government (led by Minister of Internal Affairs Franco Restivo) threatens to destroy the island. When Giorgio refuses to back down, the other residents return (including Gabriela, who leaves her fiance to support Giorgio) and stand along with him on the island against the Italian navy led by the Admiral (Federico Pacifici) (after Franco forces Giovanni to sign a declaration of war against Rose Island). They are detained by seal teams (after warning cannon shots fail to budge the protesters) and the island is blown up. The film ends showing Gabriella and Giorgio getting back together. History notes Rose Island was, despite its short life, a landmark event of being the only nation to be directly attacked by the Italian Republic. To prevent similar accidents from occurring in the future, the UN extended the international waters territory from 6 to 12 nautical miles.