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BASED ON A TRUE STORY
["Mes Amis" playing]
NETFLIX PRESENTS
[song continues on radio]
STRASBOURG
NOVEMBER 1968
[man coughs]
[coughing continues]
[sighs]
[man sighs heavily]
[in French] Mr. Gary.
[coughs]
Who is that feverish man?
Wasn't he here yesterday too?
He's been here for a week. He's an Italian engineer.
That weird car outside, is that his?
Yes, it is.
He desperately wants you to read a file he has brought.
I didn't want to bother you.
Did you tell him we deal with disputes between sovereign states?
He says he's a head of state,
and that he won't leave until I give you the file.
I think he's a bit crazy, but also very determined.
Okay. Do as I say.
Hand me the file and make it look like a big deal.
Here's the file I told you about.
Oh, thank you.
I will read it very carefully.
Very well. Thank you, sir. Goodbye.
[sighs]
[mellow music playing on radio]
Where is he?
-Who? -That mad man with a cough.
-I managed to get rid of him. -No!
Bring him to my office. I need to talk to him.
Come on, quick!
[man in English] Mr. Rosa, I must ask you if you know what day it is
and if you know where you currently are.
It's November 10th, 1968,
and we are at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.
-[coughs] -[speaks French]
All right, Mr. Rosa. Will you tell us what you want from the Council of Europe?
For you to save my island.
You bought an island?
No, I made it.
[in French] He says he created it.
[in English] How many days did it take to create this island?
Please, don't say six.
That would be some sort of strange coincidence.
No, not six days. It took several months to build.
So, you own an island which you created as well.
Well-- No, I never said created. I'm an engineer. I constructed the island.
But… [coughing]
…the world on the island…
[in French] I should just leave. This man's in a confused state.
He needs help but clearly not from us.
[in English] No, please. I need the help of the Council of Europe.
-That's why I came here. -No, don't worry. Calm down.
No, I can't. I have to worry, because if they don't they'll destroy everything.
Is… is this the island that you constructed?
Oh.
Yes, like I said, I'm an engineer.
♪ Doctor, doctor ♪
♪ They call you a doctor, my ass Fuck, fuck you! Fuck, fuck you! ♪
ONE YEAR EARLIER
♪ Doctor, doctor ♪
♪ They call you a doctor, my ass Fuck, fuck you! Fuck, fuck you! ♪
♪ Doctor, doctor ♪
♪ They call you a doctor, my ass Fuck, fuck you! ♪
No, because actually we're already doctors.
We passed the exam, and so now we're engineers, okay?
So, no more.
-♪ Engineer, engineer ♪ -No!
♪ They call you an engineer, my ass Fuck, fuck you! ♪
-What are you doing? -[shouting]
[chanting] Punishment now! Punishment now!
What punishment? Come on, I was talking--
All right, guys. He's right.
He was no match for a professional drinker--
-Because you stole my glass! -Punishment now!
I was talking about that engineer thing.
All right, since they're insisting on a good punishment, how's this?
How about, uh…
He makes an ass of himself in this bar!
No, no, no, no.
-That's not the rule. Hey! -[chanting] Ass of himself!
-But I didn't lose! -Ass of himself!
All right, he's gonna walk up to a random girl,
chat with her, and when she least expects it,
he plants a big kiss right on her lips!
[cheering]
Oh, shit.
-Hello. -Hi.
-How are you? -Hey.
Nice to see you.
I'll be right there. Yeah.
-[men chanting] Kiss her! Kiss her! -No, I…
We, uh, took the state exam earlier today.
Kiss her!
-So now I'm officially an engineer. -Kiss her!
Congratulations!
-Thank you. -Great.
-[chanting continues] -Guys, I can't kiss her. I can't.
Not gonna be kissing her. [chuckles]
They want me to kiss you because I lost a drinking game.
-Sure. -The truth is, I didn't even lose.
They keep insisting because they don't know…
-[chanting continues] -One second.
-Guys, I can't kiss her. I can't kiss her. -It's not gonna happen.
They keep asking, which is silly, you see…
Because I can't. I can't.
You look well.
[chuckles]
You look pretty good too.
-Really. -Thank you.
Do you want to grab a drink with me?
How funny…
What a coincidence running into each other here, don't you think?
Not really. Bologna is a small town.
Yeah. Yeah, yeah.
The last time I bumped into you,
you were with Cosmo-- Or no, that guy--
-Carlo. -Carlo, right. Carlo. [chuckles]
Carlo, huh.
Where is he? Home or…
We're having some trouble at the moment.
I'm so sorry.
Oh, please. You're not sorry.
Come on, it was obvious that you two weren't meant…
that your relationship was casual or…
a temporary thing.
I mean, how long were you together? A couple of months?
-Three years. -Three years?
Almost as long as you and me, huh?
I guess your parents like him.
-What's the issue then? -My parents liked you too.
Your father hated me. And that's not a response.
Okay, maybe he hated you a little.
It wasn't that bad considering he almost lost his sight
when you blew up his TV during Italy versus Russia
and never apologized to him or to me.
It imploded, and you're avoiding my question.
We fought because he says after three years, we should be getting married.
-Imploded? -I knew it.
Getting married? Are you serious?
Be careful with marriage, okay? He isn't the right guy for you.
You don't even know the guy. Who's not answering who now?
The cathode tube implodes. It doesn't explode.
It implodes when the electrons flow across a vacuum.
Plus, I told your dad to stay back, didn't I?
I was just trying to help him get better quality for watching the game.
Sorry, Giorgio. It's eleven o'clock.
-Tell me how you watch with three lines. -I gotta go.
-Shh, I've got class tomorrow. -Just wait.
I'll drive you.
Since when do you have a car?
[tires squeal]
I apologize for the interior.
I built this for my engineering exam.
I really wanted to submit a finished project.
I focused more on the engine than I did the on the interior.
I used my grandma's couch instead of seats to save time.
-Grandma's dead anyway. -[gasps]
-No, Grandma Margherita passed away? -Yes, two months ago.
-Our breakup broke her heart apparently. -We broke up three years ago, Giorgio.
Well, yeah, it was a slow decline. My grandma came apart.
Giorgio…
Can you tell me again why we ended things?
Because it was risky being with you.
If you want to change the world, you have to take some risks, right?
Getting rid of three lines on a TV is not changing the world.
-It's beautiful. -What is?
-Your car. -Well, thank you!
It's weird. [laughs]
-It's weird, but… -Well…
You constructed a car on your own and it actually works. It's amazing!
It doesn't compare to Diabolik's Jaguar.
Who? A Jaguar? What?
Diabolik.
-Diabolik. -Who's he?
The King of Terror. The comic everyone's talking about.
-No, I've never heard of it. -Oh, it's remarkable.
It's basically… [clears throat]
-…about this super smart thief… -[siren wails]
…and he always wears a mask, and he, uh, uses this mask to…
-Um, I think that was for us. -Is this for us?
-Yeah. Yes. -Let's pull over.
[chuckles]
Officer.
Ah, yes, yes.
Good evening.
-Evening. -Evening.
Is there any particular reason why this vehicle has no license plate on it?
Oh, because I didn't purchase this car. I actually built this car--
You didn't put a license plate on the car?
To be honest, I forgot about them.
All right, if you want to be funny then get out of the car. Step out.
I need you to give me your license and registration.
Salvatore, check if they have a criminal record.
Here we are.
Let me explain.
I built this car with my own two hands.
'Cause I'm an engineer.
All right. To be honest, I don't have a registration
or driver's license, just like the missing license plate.
You don't have a driver's license and you drove me around?
-Drove you? Excuse me, I didn't force you. -Yes.
-It was you who insisted, right? -I insisted?
Come on. I'd never drive you around Bologna in a car with no license plate,
without a driver's license, half-drunk.
Are you drunk right now?
No, I'm not.
I played a drinking game and I lost. I take that back. I didn't lose--
Do these two have criminal records or no?
Listen, I'm a lawyer, so let's keep it civil.
-Do not refer to us as "these two." -Oh, of course. This is my lawyer.
So we can all just calm down.
No, Giorgio, I'm not your lawyer. I'm an international law associate. Sorry.
She's just a law associate. She's completely useless to us.
No record for the lady,
but Mr. Rosa does have a criminal record.
No, no, no, no. That's not a criminal record.
It's just a flying ban. A completely different matter, okay?
On top of that, I dismantled the biplane, just as the judge ordered,
and I worked for two summers in a bar to pay for the light poles I broke.
-You flew on an unregistered plane? -Enough about that.
Yes. What is this obsession with registering everything we own?
I mean, come on.
Do we have to put a plate on every bird that flies over Piazza Maggiore?
Salvatore, the car is in the way, so move it, then call up the tow truck.
That seems unnecessary. Salvatore, I'm not sure that's a good idea.
-You don't know how to drive it. -[officer] Hold on.You need to stand back.
This vehicle is being impounded. You can't go near it.
-[engine sputters] -Seriously? Salvatore, take it easy.
-You're gonna break it. -Please listen. I asked you to stand back.
-Stop arguing. You're not listening. -You can't do this.
-Calm down, you hear? -I am listening!
-You're ruining it! -Don't touch him.
I told you to stand back, and all you've done is argue.
[cell door slams]
[exhales]
You didn't have to come and get me out of there.
They shouldn't have woken you up.
I was managing it completely fine on my own.
The judge was about to convict you
because this wasn't the first time you've been arrested.
Those two things aren't even related though.
This happened on the ground. That was air related.
Why can't you just try, Giorgio? How come you never even try?
-Try what? -To just be normal.
You'd be happier.
-Look at yourself right now. -Oh, come on.
What are you saying? "Just be normal." What does that even mean?
I managed to set up a meeting with Battistini.
I showed him the blueprints of your car.
He was really impressed and wants you on his team of engineers.
Listen, Papa, you can't just show people that stuff. Those blueprints are private.
You should be excited. It's a highly coveted job.
Yes. Papa, I know. Thank you.
Thank you.
Please pull over.
-I want to get out of the car. -Right here?
-Yes. Because I want out. -Right here?
-You're not coming home? -Will you just pull over?
-[sighs] -Just let me out.
Where are you going? Where are you going now?
Nazi criminals, called to answer to charges of crimes against humanity,
brought up the concept of positive law.
For this, they cited the famous phrase,
"We were just following orders."
In other words, "We were simply obeying the law."
Despite knowing it was very brutal, it was still the law.
And in response to this discharge of responsibility,
the judges responded by reminding them of the concept of natural law.
To further explain natural law is that innate sense of justice.
It's that thing that exists in all of us,
that reminds us we must always choose to follow…
Can you move over?
…what is right over what the rules are,
choosing what is right over the law.
Because laws may change, while what's right will always be right.
However, however,
this doesn't mean that following the law is not important.
On the contrary, actually, you absolutely should follow the law.
It is very important, especially traffic laws, for instance.
License plates are important. All right. Okay, that's all for today.
I'll see you next week. For homework, read chapter three, the Tokyo trial.
But, Professor, wait. The class only lasted ten minutes.
Because these concept are very complex, especially for somebody like you.
Need I remind you I already failed you three times, right? Bye.
-Come outside with me. -Yes.
Sorry.
I'm sorry. Sorry. Sorry again.
Sorry.
Do you know what these are?
Fingertips that are blue?
They took my fingerprints, Giorgio.
-Well, mine were already on file. -Is that so?
In six months I apply for my tenure,
and there's no way I can take the exam with a criminal record.
The night didn't end up well. That's why I'm here, to apologize.
Didn't end up well? Giorgio, they arrested us.
All right, it ended terribly.
A real tragedy.
But what happened earlier in the night…
we can't forget that.
-Giorgio, you live in your own world. -But you like that.
No, I don't like it, because we get arrested.
Because while you live in your little world,
you forget this world isn't yours! You didn't build it like you did your car!
All right. Maybe I should.
Should what?
You know. Build my own world.
Giorgio, it was a metaphor.
-Do you think you would come? -No, you can't build a world.
-Maybe I can-- -No, you can't!
Because you are not as smart as you think you are! You're not a genius.
All you do is invent toys that consistently get you arrested.
And for a split second, I almost forgot about that.
Bye, Giorgio.
[indistinct chatter]
THREE MONTHS LATER
[crowd cheering]
["My Baby Loves Me" playing]
♪ I gotta stop this talking to myself ♪
♪ I know in my heart there's no one else ♪
♪ 'Cause my baby loves me, yeah ♪
♪ Oh, yeah Oh, yeah ♪
♪ My baby loves me good ♪
♪ I think there might be Something wrong with me ♪
♪ To ever think that She would ever leave ♪
[cheering]
♪ 'Cause my baby loves me, yeah ♪
♪ Oh, yeah Oh, yeah ♪
♪ My baby loves me good… ♪
One minute, 40 seconds.
One minute, 40 seconds on the fourth lap?
-Are you certain? -Yes, I am, sir.
-What tires are on the bike right now? -Luca, we knew we were taking a risk.
That's not a risk. That's fucking suicide! Fuck!
We have to tell Bruno. Change the strategy. Go full throttle.
-Either it works or it sucks. -Full throttle on the fourth lap?
Would you rather continue like this and finish tomorrow?
Hey, kid. Go to turn seven and show this to Bruno.
-Mh-hmm. -What are you waiting for?
-Come on. Move it! -Okay.
-Who the fuck is that kid? -[man] He's the new guy.
Battistini says he's a great engineer.
[Luca] Great engineer? He looks like a moron to me.
[crowd cheering]
[engines revving]
[applause]
["Hey Joe" playing]
♪ Hey, Joe ♪
OUR PLATFORMS, YOUR ENERGY, YOUR FREEDOM
♪ Where you going With that gun in your hand? ♪
♪ Hey, Joe ♪
♪ I said where you going With that gun in your hand? ♪
-[tires screech] -Whoa!
♪ You know, I caught her messing around With another man ♪
♪ I'm going down to shoot my old lady ♪
[shouting]
♪ You know, I caught her messing around With another man ♪
♪ And that ain't too cool ♪
[man] Sir, you have to believe us.
We wouldn't even dream of going near your safe.
Angelo, I understand, but it's the third time already this year
that cash has gone missing from it, and it's only February.
Papa, don't worry.
Let me talk here.
It's…
impossible to describe the suffering
and the pain that you people, with your greed,
have caused to this company,
to this family, to this righteous man.
This man who allowed you people in during times of need.
The two of you, dressed only in your desperation,
you came here, you arrived from your distant and wild land.
And how did you pay him back?
By stealing right from the hand that fed you, your provider.
But, Mr. Maurizio, you have no proof that it was us.
[chuckles] Angelo.
Don't be absurd. How can you say that?
In the safe there were five bills, 50,000 lire each.
And now the bills have disappeared,
and the only Calabresi here… are the two of you. Right?
[laughing] They think they can do what they want.
They're the only ones here, right?
[sighs]
I should go now,
because we have a company to run, even if it's…
even more challenging now because of you two.
[Maurizio] So, we're building a platform?
[Giorgio] We're building an island.
[Maurizio] That's right, but it's shaped like a platform.
[Giorgio] But it's an island! At first, I wanted to build a real island
with sand and all that.
I spent months desperately thinking of how to do that.
But it's impossible, Maurizio.
But then, I saw the solution.
An island made with steel.
-With steel! -Steel?
Can you imagine? Our own island, a place where we can do whatever we like.
Where we can really live by our own rules.
That means I can quit working with my father.
Yes, of course you can quit.
Because I loathe working with him. You know what I mean, Giorgio?
I hate smelling the stink of it every day.
The stink of the grease, of the gasoline, of the Calabrians.
Tell me something. Can the island have a bar?
A bar where we drink whatever we want?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Well, I wouldn't want it to be the island's main attraction, but yeah.
-And where are we putting this island? -That's the best part.
Outside Italian territorial waters.
Where no one can bust our balls.
How far is that?
As far as we want.
As long as it's six miles from the coast.
I thought we could do it here,
in front of Rimini.
Not bad.
So where do we begin?
[Giorgio] Let's start with finding out how other platforms are built.
["Louie Louie" playing]
♪ Louie, Louie ♪
♪ Oh, baby, I gotta go ♪
♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ Louie, Louie ♪
♪ Oh, baby, I gotta go ♪
♪ A fine little girl who waited for me ♪
♪ I catch a ship across the sea ♪
♪ I sailed the ship all alone ♪
♪ I wondered when I'm gonna… ♪
So, how did they build it?
Eighty-six-centimeter width poles with reinforced concrete injected pillars
on the base.
How big's the base?
It looked like it was big. I couldn't really tell.
What do you mean by big? 90 centimeters, 150?
I don't know. I didn't measure it. Next time you come down here.
-[Giorgio] Oh, please. -Come on.
Help me get up before security shows up.
To sum it up, one underwater concrete injector,
then about 30 poles.
-[Giorgio] Yeah, more or less. -[Maurizio] Yeah.
Even if we build them thin at 90 centimeters,
we probably need about ten skilled workers.
Even if we bring on Calabrians, no insurance, no contributions,
and we fire them the last week without any reason,
and we never pay them anything, even then we still need about 100 million.
If we didn't use concrete?
We can get it to 80, but the problem is transportation.
For us to move 30 poles on water nine kilometers
we'd need something like a shipment for cargo.
If only they were wood, then we could just float them.
But we can't make an island with wood. It's gotta be steel.
And steel doesn't float if I remember right.
[ship horn blowing]
Well…
that ship's made of steel,
and using some kind of sorcery I never understood,
it can float.
All right, look, steel doesn't float,
but hollow steel does, you see.
With hollow poles, we'll solve the problem of transportation.
I get that, but how can we build a platform with hollow poles?
Who said they'll remain hollow?
Once they're in the right position, we open one end,
and then the pole fills with water,
and sinks to the bottom.
We'll build the island with poles
filled up with water.
[rock music playing]
I'll pay you back eventually for the poles.
Don't worry, it wasn't bad. I paid 700,000 lire.
-700,000 lire? -Yeah.
How'd you come up with all that?
I usually steal from a safe that's my father's.
Doesn't he notice?
Of course he does. It's 700, 000 lire.
I just place the blame on the Calabrians who work for him.
He reports them, or fires them. I don't know.
We're here. Stop the engine! Stop here.
Here.
If my calculations are correct,
from this point on, we're outside of territorial waters.
We aren't in Italy anymore, Maurizio.
[laughs]
These waters are international.
Nobody is in charge out here! [chuckles]
Nobody out here can bother us, nobody can tell us what to do.
We can do whatever we want to, Maurizio.
[chuckles] We're free!
Maurizio?
-Maurizio? -[exhales]
-Hey, Maurizio? -What?
So, look.
This part can be tricky.
-Yeah, yeah. -I know, but we need to unplug the poles.
And doing it out here on the sea isn't going to be the same as the tub.
Just be careful. First lift up the slider
and then swim away immediately.
I got it. Yeah, you've told me a thousand times already!
-Come on. -Yeah, because it's dangerous.
Can you smell how close the freedom is?
No, Maurizio, I can only smell that cheap herbal liquor on your breath.
Are you drunk already? It's barely eight o'clock in the morning.
How could I ever do this sober, huh?
I can't believe it.
Oh.
By the way,
it's peach grappa.
All right.
Come on.
Come on, now.
Please be careful.
Everything is in your hands now!
Everything is in your hands.
Remember.
Move away immediately.
You gotta be careful and keep in mind all the steps, yeah?
Open the slider and get away!
Get away immediately. Yeah?
Do you hear me, Maurizio?
Do you hear me?
Of course not.
It's working!
No… No, Maurizio!
Why didn't you listen to what I told you? I said to get away immediately!
He never listens! He has to do things his way!
Look at that! Look at what happened to him!
Now I'm here, stranded, in the middle of the sea! Ha!
Bravo! Congratulations!
[coughing]
It's working! [laughs]
It actually works!
It's the best day of my life!
I want to do this again! Again! Again!
Fuck you, Maurizio.
So the two of you transported the poles, planting them on the seabed.
Then you built a platform stretching 400 square meters
and nobody said anything?
No.
Not until we got the drill.
[coughs]
You got a drill?
[coughing] Yes.
A drill to find drinkable water.
To be an independent island,
we needed to have a source of drinkable water.
So, we started drilling for it.
Can we turn off the drill for a bit?
It's been giving me a headache for three days straight.
Maurizio, water is essential!
If this is you being worried about the cost of the drill,
we just need to keep the accounts in order,
even with workers, everything.
Come on! We're not gonna be paying for these guys! No.
In fact, they're actually grateful.
They were about to go to prison! They stole millions from my father's safe.
Wait, I thought you stole that money.
Not according to the prosecutor in Rimini.
-[siren blares] -Right.
What the fuck…
Turn off the drill for a second, then we'll turn it back on.
I can't just turn it off. There's no switch.
It isn't some toaster.
[man] This is the coastguard talking to…
an unidentified island.
You are required to identify yourselves to us
and immediately cease all activities.
No, I'm sorry, but we can't turn it off. It doesn't have a switch.
This is your last warning.
The illegal occupation of public air is a criminal offense
punishable with immediate detention in flagrante delicto.
-Public radio? -He doesn't seem to get it. Let me talk.
This isn't… isn't some toaster you can turn off.
Plus, we're in international waters!
Also, this isn't a radio. More importantly, we're not a radio.
No, no… No, he thinks the drill's an antenna, but it's not.
We aren't broadcasting anything. We don't use airwaves here.
This is a drill. We're just looking for fresh water.
We're looking for water.
-He said they're looking for water? -Water.
Think he got it?
What do they mean?
Why are you looking for water in the middle of the ocean?
Well, because… [clears throat]
We are creating an independent state.
You're creating an independent state with or without radio?
Without radio!
-Ah. -A state without radio.
Very well, then.
Thanks for your cooperation. Have a nice evening!
You too.
[thud]
[Giorgio laughing]
-More water? -No, no, no. Thank you.
Shall we go? I'll take the Calabrians back to land.
You know what I was thinking?
I think I might stay here tonight.
-What do you mean? -On the island.
We have it all.
We have water, we have coffee. We have it all.
It's a beautiful, sunny day.
I'll spend my first night here.
Are you sure?
Why did we build an island if we're not gonna spend time here.
Of course I want to stay.
All right, my friend.
It is beautiful!
Huh? [chuckles]
Fuck. It's incredible.
[both laugh]
[Giorgio] Thank you, Maurizio.
Thank you.
It's a bad idea to be hugging in front of the Calabrians.
They don't like it.
Yeah, yeah. You're right.
-Oh… -Yeah.
[song playing in Italian on radio]
[raindrops pattering]
[scoffs]
[song continues]
[thunder rumbling]
[wind whistling]
[platform groans]
[platform creaking]
[man] Hey! Hey!
Help!
-Hey! -Hey!
What is that thing?
This is a free and independent island! We just found fresh water.
-We're going to make our own-- -Just tell me about that later.
Help me get on there.
Pietro Bernardini.
[in French] Officially, a welder.
He had been living on his boat for months,
and he became the first resident of the island.
[in English] Was the first resident really a castaway?
He was.
Oh.
[in French] There appears to be another resident too.
A stateless German man,
whose name is…
Um…
[Giorgio] Neumann.
Wolfgang Rudy Neumann.
Correct.
Wolfgang Rudy Neumann.
[man singing in Italian]
[Giorgio] Legend has it that in 1943, Neumann was forced to join the army
and sent to Rimini to defend the Gothic Line.
As soon as he saw the beach,
he knew what he wanted to do with his life.
One night, he ran away from his camp, and without any hesitation,
he went to the Town Hall to find a job working on the beach.
This is how Wolfgang Rudy Neumann's myth was born,
the greatest PR of the Romagna Riviera.
[man continues singing]
Rudy! Rudy! Come here! Come here!
[Giorgio] After the war, he was charged with treason for deserting his country
and so, his German citizenship was revoked.
Yes, Peppe?
Did I ever tell you what my father did for a living?
-No, Peppe, you've never said. -He was a buffalo farmer.
Know what a buffalo smells like?
-Like cows? -They smell like shit.
I went to the bathroom. I thought of my childhood
and was "mooved" by the smell in there.
How many times have I told you you need to be checking every 20 minutes
to get the excess shit off of the floors,
the walls, the basins and the rim of the toilet seats?
Why do I have to do that?
Who is it that's bringing in all these people who shit here?
That's what I do, I bring people to clubs. It's what you pay me for.
No, I pay you because I'm a benefactor. If you're unhappy with this,
why don't you get your own beach club?
You know why I can't. They don't give permits to non-Italian citizens.
Ah, so why don't you open it in Germany then?
Because I'm not a German citizen either.
Then, my boy,
please go.
Did you see they're building an island on the sea outside Rimini?
Really, an actual island?
Yes, some crazy guy from Bologna. The idea's absurd.
[man 2] What do they planning on doing with a whole island?
[man 1] It's outside territorial waters,
so they can do whatever they want. I don't know.
[man 2] Let me tell you something. That sounds crazy.
[presenter] A round of applause to the number one PR of the riviera,
Rudy Neumann!
-[cheering] -[applause]
[Rudy] So, you built all this by yourselves?
[Giorgio] Yes.
And why the hell did you do it?
For the same reason a dog licks his testicles. [laughs]
What do you mean?
Because he can.
I don't understand.
A dog licks his testicles because he can.
We are engineers, we wanted to build an island.
-We knew how to do it, so we did it. -So, we did it.
I don't get the testicles thing. You both lick--
No, we don't lick our testicles.
It was just an expression to explain how we wanted to build a new world
where we could do whatever and be free, and we did it. We built it.
Okay, but there's a naked man shaving his beard.
That's Pietro. He lives here.
Here? On the island?
He's a castaway. He doesn't talk much, but…
Okay, but I count three things here. A semi-deserted island,
water that's barely fresh and a half-naked castaway.
Not much for a free, new world.
Hold on a minute, I only count three things about you too.
A German deserter,
a PR guy who doesn't actually know anyone, and…
I can't come up with a third. But, Giorgio, this guy,
he comes here to criticizes us. It isn't fair.
We don't need to welcome everybody who comes here.
We have to welcome him here. That's the whole point.
Castaways, deserters. Nobody cares who you are,
or where you're from either.
He's speaking like that, but he did this for a girl.
-That's not true. -You know it is.
Does this place have a name yet?
BOAT TRIP TO THE NEW ISLAND OF STEEL
EVERY MORNING DEPARTS 10:30 RETURNS 17:45
["Send Me a Postcard" playing]
♪ Before loneliness will break my heart ♪
♪ Send me a postcard, darling… ♪
[Giorgio] With Rudy Neumann, everything changed.
It was an unbelievable, instant success.
Rumors about a free, independent state began to spread like wildfire,
at first all along the Romagna Riviera,
then through all of Italy.
In the end, we had people coming from all across Europe
to see what seemed like a miracle.
♪ Send me a postcard now ♪
Timing was on our side too.
♪ I can't taste a lonely night… ♪
That year was going to be long remembered.
Everyone recalls it by just its last two digits:
six and eight.
♪ Now ♪
♪ Now please don't let me down ♪
♪ Ain't no lover like me in town ♪
We didn't know much about May 1st, 1968 in France
but people took to the streets and set Paris on fire
calling for a better world.
-And for us… -[speaks German]
…we had built a better world all on our own.
[in English] Today, May 1st, 1968,
500 meters outside of territorial waters,
independent from all states, we are making history!
Here, you are going to be truly free!
[cheering]
We're happy to welcome you to Rose Island!
[cheering]
♪ Before loneliness will break my heart ♪
♪ Send me a postcard, darling ♪
♪ Send me a postcard, darling… ♪
We need a language.
What do you mean?
People are coming from all over Europe.
We need an official language that isn't Italian
or a language from another country.
Something and free and international.
I don't think a language like that exists.
Well, I believe it does.
ROSE ISLAND
♪ Send me a postcard, darling ♪
♪ How can I make you understand? ♪
♪ I wanna be your woman… ♪
REVEALED IN RIMINI THE MYSTERY OF THE ISLAND
THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE IS ESPERANTO
[Giorgio] In the media, we were more important than local politics,
more important than student revolts, and even the war in Vietnam.
ROSE ISLAND RUDY NEUMANN TO BE THE NEW PR REP
[urinating]
[toilet flushes]
Oh, fuck.
Are you leaving?
Yes. I'm pregnant.
What? You're pregnant? What do you mean pregnant?
How will I explain this to my mother?
[sighs]
It can't be yours, you idiot. I met you last night.
Okay.
Pietro, you only bought Cynar?
Because people like Cynar.
Yeah, I'm sure they do, but what if some people want to drink something else?
All right, let's go.
People at the pier are saying today's gonna be packed.
-Great. -How's it going with the bar?
He only bought Cynar.
Well, yeah, because I think people really enjoying drinking Cynar.
Maurizio, why didn't you go shopping with him like we asked you to?
Did you notice I'm only marginally involved in this project now?
Come on. Don't start up again about the name, please.
I am starting up again because our name was very beautiful. And very elegant.
"The Isle of Maurizio and Giorgio" is neither beautiful nor elegant.
Yes, it is, and some girl's staring at you.
Oh, God.
Okay, listen up, guys.
Someone needs to go over and talk to her and tell her I died in Vietnam.
-Hello! -Hi! Good to see you.
-What a surprise! How are you? -Knocked up.
Um, I have a certificate of sterility that they gave me during the war.
It says that my…
I'm not even sure if it's yours though.
-What are you saying? -There are many possibilities.
This isn't very nice of you.
Look, you can't go around telling people you're pregnant.
I've heard this place is amazing, but the bar really sucks.
I need a job. And you need a female bartender.
["Il Geghegè" playing in Italian]
[song continues]
-Get up. -What's that?
-Come on, get up! -Oh.
No. All right. We're spiraling here.
That German is having people sign up for an end-of-summer water-skiing race.
You're telling me that that's normal? Is that what we initially wanted?
You talked about a free world,
but I have a different perspective, I guess.
For example?
A tournament for poker.
-Gambling? -No, no, no. We'll play for shots.
Shots of grappa.
If someone loses, he drinks. If he wins, he drinks some more.
But if somebody wants to play for money, we can't say no.
That's not the point though. As long as we both agree,
I'll go stop him before he collects the money.
We should talk about this later, Maurizio.
Hey!
Huh?
They do that stuff all the time.
They throw away their shirts, their ties, jackets, a bunch of clothes.
I don't know why, but they all do that.
Is that your new girlfriend?
What?
That girl right there. The bartender.
What? No, that girl's pregnant.
With your baby?
My baby? No. To be honest, we don't know who baby's father is.
As a matter of fact, she doesn't care. She has several theories.
She's practically the poster girl for this place,
a 19-year-old girl, pregnant and free.
On the mainland she'd never be able to find a job. I'm talking never.
But here, on the other hand…
I'm so glad that you're here.
Really. I knew you'd come sooner or later.
-Everybody's talking about this, Giorgio. -You gotta see this place at night.
-Hmm. -Amazing.
Staying for a bit? Will you?
I'm getting married, Giorgio.
What? Married?
Come on!
You don't really want to get married.
You belong in this world more than any other person here.
Giorgio, I'm not sure I'd call this place a world.
It's more of a beach club or a disco.
A disco? We're a free, independent state.
We're free.
We provide drinking water
and an official language.
You might have those things, but I just see people dancing,
people drinking, and a bartender.
It seems like a disco to me. That's all.
With a romantic name, so…
It seems… No, it…
Okay, Giorgio. I'm sorry, I'm…
I have to go.
Take care of yourself.
[Rudy] Do you understand how difficult it is for me
to bring all these people out here every day?
No, and let me tell you why.
Because I don't think it's difficult for you at all, okay?
The difficult part was building the island.
And while we were doing that, you were at the beach club cleaning toilets.
You're wrong. I was the club's main PR.
And I quit all of that because two kids had built a platform out on the open sea,
but were clueless about with what to do with it. I turned it into a dream!
It was our dream, not yours. Don't forget that.
You can't turn this place into an illegal gambling house. I will not let you.
Nothing is illegal on this island. That's something that you still don't get.
Water-skiing is for rich people. Something that you can do everywhere.
But poker is not. You can only play that here.
-Because it's a crime in the real world! -Exactly! But not here.
That's why we built this island.
Hey, Giorgio, please tell him.
No, we built ourselves a disco.
Wait, what did we do?
We built our little, free world, our happy, independent island.
But what is the point of all this
if they don't properly recognize us as an independent nation?
If who doesn't recognize us?
Italy, and, uh, Europe. The other nations.
I'm totally against this. I mean, who cares if they recognize us or not?
Yeah, if we wanted to build a state, we'd have rules. We don't want those.
If they don't recognize us,
we are no better than a disco in the middle of the sea.
We already have everything. Currency, stamps, a postal service.
The only thing missing…
is a government,
but the government is all of us.
I will be the president,
Franca, minister of economics,
Pietro, surveillance and defense.
What's minister of surveillance?
Okay, it is "surveillance and defense." You're the lookout.
You surveil more than defend. Surveillance.
Rudy, foreign minister, Maurizio, secretary.
This is a bad idea, Giorgio.
Maurizio's totally right.
-They don't give a shit. -So what?
-[Franca] I feel like I'm a minister. -Ah.
I wonder how my folks will respond. I usually give them bad news.
So how do you plan on doing this?
[upbeat music playing]
[horns honking]
UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS
[sirens wailing in distance]
[line ringing]
["Nobody But Me" playing]
♪ No-no, no, no-no, no, no ♪
♪ No, no-no, no, no, no-no, no-no ♪
♪ No, no-no, no, no, no-no, no-no, no-no ♪
♪ Nobody can do The shing-a-ling like I do ♪
♪ Nobody can do the skate like I do ♪
♪ Nobody can do the boogaloo like I do ♪
♪ Nobody can do the philly like I do ♪
♪ Well, don't you know I'm gonna skate right through ♪
♪ Ain't nobody do it but me Nobody but me ♪
♪ I'm gonna spin, I do ♪
♪ Ain't nobody do it but me, babe Nobody but me ♪
♪ Well, let me tell you nobody ♪
♪ Nobody but me ♪
ROME
ITALIAN PARLIAMENT
[man] The idea here is to increase
and then strategically relocate our military trucks
to send out a very strong message.
We'll take advantage of the summer to gain control of occupied universities,
which they all are, except one.
Only one isn't? Which one?
Luigi. Again with the trucks?
I know, Giovanni, but didn't you notice that just a few months ago
these same students were going to classes and respecting professors.
And now, a hoard driven by violence.
You see, it's clear that this is being caused by pollution
and by excessive intake of proteins and television.
I watched TV yesterday.
It was all dismemberment, monsters, people copulating
on the very first channel. I mean, it isn't normal.
No, you were watching the Odyssey.
The Odyssey?
I didn't know. I fell asleep.
Okay, anyway…
let's go ahead with the outposts.
If there are no more urgent matters, then let's adjourn until next Tuesday.
Thank you.
[indistinct chatter]
Hold on, Giovanni. speaking of the young people…
Huh?
There is one thing…
Well, it doesn't matter. We'll talk about it next time we meet.
No, no. Tell me, Franco.
It's a little thing. We'll talk about it next time.
Please don't worry. It's a small, foolish thing.
No, go ahead. Just tell us about it and then we'll go to lunch.
It's nothing.
Basically, there's this…
young man, you see, and some of his friends in Rimini,
who, uh…
500 meters outside of territorial waters,
you know, just outside of Rimini,
what'd he do?
He constructed an island and declared it independent.
[chuckles]
Sorry, could you repeat that?
It's nothing, Giovanni. It's such a foolish, little thing, I told you.
I'm hearing myself explaining it now, and I realize that it may…
I realize that it may sound more serious than it really is.
They're just guys in Rimini, 500 meters outside territorial waters,
that built an island and then they declared independence.
Heh.
Independence from who?
Well, Italy, I guess, from everybody. Just independent.
It's an island that, from what I gathered,
is no more than a platform they built out on the sea.
From what you gathered?
Please, it's not that dramatic. Let's not make a big deal out of this.
How did they make this platform?
-I don't know. -How long did it take?
-Giovanni… -No, how long did it take?
I have no idea how much time it takes
to construct a steel platform in the middle of the ocean.
Tell me, why are we just finding out about this now?
Probably because the island is nine kilometers off the coast,
meaning it's in international waters. Local authorities assume it's not their--
I'm sorry,
but how did you find out?
Well, that might be the one detail that makes
this seemingly insignificant event here a little more important,
because basically, we were told…
by the UN because they called.
The United Nations?
That's why I didn't want to tell you about this, Giovanni.
They're making such a big fuss over something so small.
It's just a prank. It's insignificant.
I'm sorry, Franco, but the UN called us, and you're telling me it's just a prank?
Who's our man over there at the United Nations?
-Uh, Randelli. -Randelli died last year!
Do you remember the name of the officer who made the call?
Well, I don't think he was an officer, Giovanni.
Thank God. Was he a secretary?
A secretary. Yes, secretary.
Not just any secretary, though.
It was the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
-And so when was this? -Two days ago.
What have you been doing for two days?
I sent our best intelligence agents to go and check on their activities.
Ah! Where is the report?
Uh… [chuckles]
We haven't heard from them in…
over 40 hours.
In eight more hours, we'll have to notify their families with a telegram.
[scoffs]
[indistinct chatter]
-We have to do something about that. -Hello. Good morning.
All right.
-Tell me you found the agents. -They're waiting on the phone.
-They're alive then. -Yes, they are.
They're going to wish they weren't.
Agent, you both better have a valid explanation
for your disgraceful behavior over the past 40 hours.
-I cheated on my wife! -Agent, pull yourself together.
The situation here has become far worse than expected.
Please. Please, don't tell her. I love her so much!
-Wait! -Minister, Agent Piazza.
The inhabitants' top priority seems to be covering seasonal sliced fruit with wine.
Following this, they drink the wine--
Agent Piazza, that is called sangria.
The Spanish have been drinking that forever.
Agent, it sounds to me like the two of you are speaking
to an Italian minister while you're currently inebriated.
-It's the minister. -Oh, let me talk to him.
Get back to Rome immediately and give me a detailed report.
Or you will be forced to respond to allegations of high treason
in martial court.
[line clicks, beeps]
[sighs]
[newsreel music playing]
[reporter] Now that we've concluded foreign affairs,
let's move on to lifestyle.
Or rather, this is still foreign affairs, but with a focus on lifestyle.
This fun little play on words is how we're introducing
what seems to be the talk of the town
which is the main attraction happening now off the shores of Rimini.
Rose Island.
The founder, Giorgio Rosa, talks about a utopia and freedom.
But what exactly is going on on that island?
What are they trying to hide?
Drugs? Decadence and drink? Gambling?
We spoke to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Franco Restivo.
This island, this so-called Rose Island,
must not and absolutely should not be regarded as an independent state,
nor should it be approved as one.
[reporter] Minister, is it true that the UN opened a case
and that there's actual ground for their claim to independence?
Not at all. The file is of no concern to us.
This lawless platform in the middle of the ocean
will not be tolerated by the Italian nation.
We have no way to guarantee the safety of our citizens out there.
It may be located in international waters,
but those are still Italian citizens, and our main concern is their safety.
What's this?
Letters. Applications for citizenships.
It's great! The minister unwillingly gave us incredible publicity.
-[Maurizio] From all over the world. -[Rudy] Now we're known everywhere.
And they all want to become citizens of Rose Island.
[laughs]
-God bless the president! -Come on, stand up.
-You're amazing! -Thank you.
Hello. How are you?
Sorry I'm late.
President?
Yeah, Papa, they're just hippies. They're not serious.
[mother chuckles]
-Did you order yet? -We wanted to wait for you.
Good, I'm here now. Waiter?
Hey, what's the fresh catch today?
Besides the usual catch of the day,
we have a lovely lobster that can be served in a number of ways.
All right. How about lobster for everybody?
Half a portion of tagliolini.
Uh, only half a portion of tagliolini, Papa?
-Yes, half a portion of tagliolini. -[mother] Hmm.
If it's about money, don't worry. I'll pay.
-Half a portion-- -He wants half a portion of taglioni.
Okay, two lobsters and half a portion of tagliolini.
Okay. Thank you.
-Thank you. Anyway, you look good, Mamma. -Thank you.
Is it legal, Giorgio?
Is the money you're earning legal?
Well, what do you mean legal?
We are an independent state. The UN is going to recognize us.
We decide what is legal or not.
Nobody decides what is legal, Giorgio.
Papa, no, we're not doing nothing wrong.
Haven't you been listening to the news at all?
Why don't you come visit? After lunch.
It's a 20-minute boat ride.
Let's go together so you can see what we do.
Papa, did I tell you I actually patented a telescopic pillar system to build it?
You'd adore it, I'm sure.
Will you?
Your mother naps after lunch, so no.
Okay.
Maybe another time then.
["Sognando la California" playing in Italian]
Hey.
Are your parents joining?
My mom takes a nap after lunch.
Don't take it personally.
It's hard for them to understand what we're doing.
Eh, well…
Mr. Rosa, right?
Sorry, we're in a hurry. We're leaving right now.
Yes, that's me.
Look, you'll need to speak to our foreign relations guy if you need anything.
We need to speak with you in private.
As I was saying, we have someone you can talk to--
It's okay. It's okay.
Let's go.
You can wait for me at the boat.
[agent] Mr. Rosa, do you know who we are?
-[Giorgio] A funeral service? -The secret service.
I know. It was just making a little joke.
We've met before, haven't we?
I spent 40 hours on the island.
Of course, you're the man who lost his pinkie.
No, no.
No, I didn't actually bet my pinkie, it--
Yes! What a memorable card game, so incredible.
All activity on your island must cease immediately.
What activity?
Our reports show that you have a bar that is managed by a minor,
and you're hosting illegal card games.
And so?
Aren't those men over there playing card games at a bar?
How come we can't do it?
It's very different from what happens here under the watchful eye of authorities.
Oh, you should have mentioned the watchful eye earlier.
Giorgio, listen. What the major here is trying to say
is that we truly respect your sociological experiment,
but, as with all experiments, it has to end.
What is ending?
At the end of the month, there's a renewal of club permits.
The major here has power of attorney.
Do you see that briefcase?
Inside are papers that will allow you,
who originally had nothing,
to now own whatever two beach permits you desire.
You would be completely set for the next three generations.
Besides, you just said it yourself. You do the same things.
The bar, the cards, you can do all of that right here.
What's the difference?
Nothing, except that you'll actually own a permit now.
If you're saying, "I don't pay any taxes out there,"
I'd say no one pays them here either. Come on, Giorgio.
What the fuck.
I'm being serious!
I'm trying to fucking help you so you can save your island!
[Giorgio] Exactly.
Can I have your attention, please, everyone?
Mr. President, may I say it?
If you want to.
Good. As you know, tonight, we kept the island to ourselves
for a special council of ministers meeting
for the news I'm giving you guys.
Our President Giorgio Rosa has finally lifted his concerns,
and starting tomorrow, anyone who has applied for citizenship
will be officially granted one.
[Franca] Whoo!
-No, no applauding. Stop. Stop that. -Great!
That wasn't the actual news. That was just an official notice.
The news is that we printed our first and most important passport,
and we all agreed that this needs to go to
a man who has never owned a passport of his own. And so…
Rudy, this is for you.
-No. -Aw.
No, guys, this is the news that calls for some applause, okay?
-Come on! This is yours. -[Franca] You go, Neumann!
-[Pietro] Rudy! Rudy! Rudy! -[Franca] Bravo!
Rudy! Rudy!
[Giovanni] We're hoping that the increased military presence
will help us to settle things down…
VATICAN CITY
…and especially regain control of universities
since we only have one left.
[man] These are difficult times.
But you shouldn't worry, you're doing an excellent job,
and everybody here is very happy with how you're handling it.
Thanks, Emanuel.
So, Giovanni,
I suppose I'll see you in two weeks, as usual.
-Yes. -And try to get a little sleep.
You're starting to look a little gray.
I could really use a vacation.
[footsteps approaching]
-And there's this. -Ah!
Giovanni, excuse me. While we're here,
there's a small issue I'd like to discuss with you.
Especially since it seems to be getting a lot of exposure in the tabloids lately.
ROSE ISLAND A SMALL STATE OFF RIMINI
Yes, Emanuel, we're already working on it.
I'm sure that you are, but you know times certainly have changed.
In the past, I used to be able to easily filter the news out,
but now our Holy Father wants to be informed firsthand.
He reads the news first thing in the morning.
Luckily, I caught this one right before he saw it and removed it from the pile,
but it would've been bad if he saw it.
Giovanni,
this is an ass.
Do you see it, Giovanni? An ass in the news.
Do you think that that is normal?
No, no, of course not, but my dear Emanuel,
let's not get all upset about one ass. [chuckles]
It's not about the ass itself. It's well proportioned and lovely,
but it's what the ass represents.
An ass on an island where, from what I read,
you can do whatever you want.
Do you get it, Giovanni? An ass and everything you want.
Giovanni,
with an ass, can you do everything you want?
-No. I'll tell you. You can't. -Ah.
Otherwise, this country would go out of control.
Yeah.
Um, the truth is,
they're outside territorial waters, therefore outside our jurisdiction.
As I told you, it's a very small issue.
[church bells ringing]
Where's Franco?
What the fuck is this shit?
[toilet flushes]
Giovanni, hello. I wasn't expecting you.
If you had you told me, we could have met at the bar or somewhere else.
As you can see, it's a mess up here.
-What the fuck are these letters? -Nothing…
Applications to relinquish Italian citizenship, Mr. President,
in favor of Rose Island's.
No, No. No, not exactly. It doesn't work like that.
You can't just write a letter to give up your citizenship.
It isn't a magazine subscription. You can't just cancel it.
[chuckles] Giovanni, some of them are written in such poor Italian.
-You shouldn't waste-- -How many are there?
About 300, more or less.
The German Consulate received about 100,
30 from France and four from the United States.
Four, Giovanni. Only four from the US.
Americans don't give damn. It's just a joke.
Franco, quite frankly, I have had enough of this shit.
Letters, parliamentary interrogations,
and asses that can't do whatever they want to.
Asses, what?
You have to fix this problem,
even if you have to swim out there with a screwdriver between your teeth
and have to unscrew every goddamn bolt of that fucking platform!
Franco, we've known each other for over 30 years,
but you've never really seen me this pissed off.
Tell me you understand.
I understand, Giovanni. Of course.
[groans]
Rosa!
Battistini is here.
He wants to talk to you.
[sighs]
[thunder rumbles]
Nothing, it's raining tomorrow too.
I think it's time for us to start building the cover for the second floor.
And we absolutely should extend the roof.
Giorgio, are you listening? Have you thought about the heating?
It's important. We're gonna freeze to death in a month.
We need to find a solution.
So, Rudy… any thoughts?
Guys, I really don't know.
An island is a summer place.
In my experience, it's hard to attract guests in autumn.
What do you mean it's difficult to attract guests in autumn?
This is an independent nation.
We can't close for vacation. We have citizens now, guys.
Franca, what do you think?
Guys, I'm almost six months pregnant. I'm not sure I can stay much longer.
What? We've been talking about the first natural-born citizen for months.
Come on, please!
[Franca] The obstetrician won't come to the island. She says it's too dangerous.
[Maurizio] She says it's dangerous because she doesn't want to come here.
I'll find you another one who will come here.
And you, Pietro? What are your plans?
Be serious, Giorgio, what plans do you think that Pietro has?
Come on, guys. Let's be positive.
Being negative doesn't help us, right?
-What did they offer you? -So, about the roof--
What are you saying, Giorgio?
What did they offer you?
[scoffs]
[Maurizio] Wait.
Am I the only one who wasn't offered anything?
-Stop, Maurizio. -Stop what? You knew everything?
And you chose not to tell me.
What did they offer you?
You use the baby excuse. What did they really offer you?
And you dare to come here to tell me these things?
What did they offer you?
-Why aren't you talking? -[Pietro] Enough. Enough!
[Maurizio] Guys, you didn't tell me anything.
-[Pietro] Just let it go. -[Maurizio] No, I won't let it go.
[arguing continues indistinctly]
-Hi, Mamma. -Hi.
[talking on TV]
[sighs]
This is my first time watching TV during the day.
[sighs] I'm really sorry, Papa.
It's my fault.
I had no idea they'd go so far.
What did they offer you?
[scoffs]
Two beach clubs…
of my choosing, Pop.
-Two beach clubs. -Yeah.
We made all those sacrifices for your education…
and now you want to manage a beach club.
In some cases, it's best to… to just say yes.
Right?
You taught me that.
They called me in and told me
that my performance didn't meet the factory standard levels.
I've never taken a day off from work.
I've never taken a sick leave.
I've always done what they asked. I've always been in my place.
Say no, Giorgio.
Say no once again.
[tense music playing on film]
[crowd gasps]
[Giorgio] Excuse me. Sorry.
I'm sorry. Excuse me.
I'm sorry. Oh, I'm very sorry.
-I'm sorry. Yeah, excuse me. Excuse me. -[shouting on film]
-[shushing] -Could please you move over?
Can you move over? It's urgent. I'm sorry.
I need to…
-I am sorry. I'm very sorry. Sorry. -[shushing continues]
Very sorry. Thank you.
What are you doing here?
I've been looking for you for two days. Where were you?
You know Carlo, right? My future husband.
Carlo! Nice to meet you. Giorgio.
-Gabriella has told me a lot about you. -[shushing continues]
-Carlo. Nice to meet you. -Carlo…
-What's happening, sweetheart? -Nothing, don't worry.
Listen, it isn't a disco.
I mean, not even close. It's a nation that's free and independent.
But we're under attack. I need you to help me defend us.
Okay, okay. Sorry, honey. I'll be right back.
-Let's go. -[shushing continues]
I'm sorry, it's urgent.
-[crowd gasps] -I'm sorry.
You shouldn't have involved the UN. You pissed them off.
I just wanted to prove it was a free and independent nation.
Yes, you're free territorially,
but an Italian citizen is such even outside territorial waters.
Not if a person is allowed to choose.
That's why we printed passports for people.
That's exactly the point, Giorgio. You could be absolutely right.
But they'll never admit it because it'll become a very dangerous precedent.
Then who can help me?
I don't know. A priest?
Come on! There has to be someone, a judge, an agency, I don't know.
A fucking King Solomon who's willing to help me out.
Yes, the Council of Europe in Strasbourg deals with disputes between states.
Oh, perfect. Let's go there.
Go where?
To Strasbourg!
Giorgio, you can't go to the Council of Europe as a private citizen.
But I have a nation, and I'm going with my lawyer. That's you.
It's your field, right? International law.
I'm offering you the adventure of a lifetime.
Saving an independent nation.
In or not?
Giorgio…
Okay.
-[screaming] -[crowd gasps]
IMPOUNDED VEHICLE
[engine starts]
[Giorgio] And so…
I ended up here.
[in French] "And so, I ended up here."
[sighs deeply]
Is that all?
Um…
-Yes. -Yes.
Thank you.
[chair scraping floor]
Mmm.
Major, I congratulate you on behalf of the Italian people.
It wasn't easy.
Thank you very much, sir.
How much did it cost us in the end?
Those are four poor souls, sir.
We did it with a bar, a beach club permit, one passport,
-and a sailboat. -Mm.
What about that man Orlandi?
Maurizio Orlandi is an alcoholic.
He drinks all day. No point in talking to people like him.
Well done, Major. Well done.
[whispering]
How come he's whispering?
Because he doesn't want to bother you, sir.
No, his whispering is what bothers me. What did you just say?
Uh, I said nothing important, sir.
[sucks teeth] No.
I didn't like your expression. What did he say?
Giorgio Rosa is at the Council of Europe.
It doesn't mean anything, sir.
He's sightseeing. They don't admit private citizens.
The Council of Europe decided to hear him after he spent a week in the lobby.
They called an emergency committee, and Giorgio Rosa provided his version.
Fine. I see.
[phone ringing]
[ringing continues]
[in French] It's incredible. I don't know how you did it.
You told an incredible story.
Whatever the outcome, this will go down in history.
You have no idea of what is about to happen here today.
Translate, please.
They will start a dossier on it, and they will examine the case. Go on.
[in English] The Council of Europe will express its opinion on your island.
That's good, right?
[in French] Can someone please answer the phone?
So, Giorgio, you should not let your guard down.
Maybe we should talk to some legal experts.
Can someone answer the phone?
Hello?
Yes.
Eh… uh.
Mr. Tomà?
It's urgent.
Not now, get a message. I'll call back.
Uh… it's the Italian Minister of Internal Affairs.
It's not for you.
He wants to talk to Mr. Rosa.
[in English] Hello?
[Franco] When I was a boy,
I had only one passion,
riding my bicycle.
I was able to balance
my political activity with some decent results
while I participated in many respectable local biking competitions.
Then all of a sudden, I had to put an end to it.
In 1947, I finally had to put my bike to rest,
because I found myself on any God-given day,
gathered with 551 poor idiots,
with a mission to write a long list of sentences that were numbered,
which would inevitably become the foundation of the republic
that was being born.
We had to take everything into account.
Foresee every variable.
If we got one wrong, everything would fall apart,
and the freedom we fought so hard for would disappear.
Reading those sentences that we made today,
I firmly believe that we did quite well.
And you,
someone who is nothing but a miserable piece of shit in my opinion
would like to be the exception to that perfect calculation?
You bring up freedom, but that's not what we have.
We only have partial freedom.
Absolute freedom scares you.
Let me tell you, you don't hate me for what I did.
You hate me for what I was able to achieve.
I'm outside territorial waters.
So this matter does not concern you.
Who do you think you are, acting like some big shot
writing to the UN and going to the Council of Europe?
You are an anarchist only up to a point if you need someone to recognize you.
You built a 400-square-meter platform in the middle of the sea
with four other idiots, and you think this qualifies to be called a nation?
You will never be able to understand what it truly takes
to protect the freedoms and rights of 40 million people.
I'll never take lessons from someone who had a good man
fired from his job after 30 loyal years only to intimidate me!
Do yourself a favor and just go away. It's better than being humiliated.
You're on your own, and you have no chance.
The Council of Europe has just agreed to examine my case.
The consultation will start tomorrow morning.
You better call up your lawyers, asshole,
because all of this is just getting started. You get it?
And I'm not backing down.
All right, listen up, you dickhead.
You founded a nation? Well, so did I.
Do you know the difference between my nation and yours?
I have at my disposal a whole arsenal that can blow up your shitty island!
You better run back to Rimini,
or you'll miss out on the greatest firework show you will ever witness!
[dial tone beeping]
I have to go back to Rimini.
But the Council will meet in two days.
There might not be an island anymore in two days!
[alarm blaring]
[man over PA] Assault squad, ready in 15 minutes.
Instructions will follow.
This is not a drill.
I repeat, this is not a drill.
Assault squad, ready in 15 minutes.
Instructions will follow.
[man] Honestly, the popular wedding trend is to gift your guests with the Hunter
once the ceremony and celebration are done.
The one you're holding in your hands
is the crown jewel of the '68-'69 collection.
It's titled The Hunter with His Bloodhounds.
We do also have a budget model without the bloodhounds.
You'll save some money, sure,
but, admittedly, it's far less elegant.
What do we do, hon?
What is this?
It's Rose Island, a silver replica.
A souvenir. We sell hundreds of those to tourists.
If you like, we also have the version that's made of wrought iron.
Hmm?
[Giorgio] Hello, Mamma?
Were you sleeping?
I know, it's late. It's 11:00 p.m. I'm sorry.
No, nothing.
I wanted to tell you that I'm fine.
I'm on the freeway coming back to Rimini.
I was in, uh, France, remember?
For the meeting with the Council discussing my island.
It's actually going extremely well.
Tomorrow, they'll meet to decide.
Yes, I ate something, Mamma.
A sandwich here at the gas station.
Yes, they make sandwiches.
They put some stuff inside.
No, I'm fine, I promise. I just…
wanted to talk to you.
No, don't wake him up.
There's no need to.
Just tell him hello.
Bye, Mamma. Good night.
[grunts]
Can it fit two people?
I mean the boat there. Can it fit two people?
The boat…
The boat? Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, yeah.
I just wanted to tell you that I'm coming with you.
With me?
Of course.
I called Strasbourg. They told me there was a problem.
Your mother told me you were coming back, I thought I'd find you here. Now hurry up.
Okay, I wasn't understanding, but now--
[Gabriella] Hurry up.
-About-- -No.
Obviously, I'm not getting married anymore or I wouldn't be here.
Now, please, don't make me regret this.
[generator whirring]
[sighs]
It's weird to see it so empty.
And yet, even when it's empty, they all still hate it.
So, what do you think is gonna happen?
I don't know, Giorgio.
Something to prove they're right. Probably something symbolic.
Well, thanks for being here with me.
You know…
It doesn't look…
like a disco now.
It's about time you came around.
It took you long enough.
Is it true what they say about why you built it?
What do they say?
That you did all of this for me.
[laughs]
Oh, all of this for, for you…
Well…
Well, I mean, if we go back to the origin of the idea,
it was a concept, or a quest you could say,
for absolute freedom. It's simply-
-[waves lapping] -[seagulls squawking]
[ship horn blowing]
[helicopter whirring]
[ship horn continues]
[whirring continues]
Well, so much for a symbolic act.
An honor to have you on board, Admiral.
-The ships are in position. -Any civilians on the island?
Two, Giorgio Rosa and an unidentified woman.
Perfect. We'll wait for the green light to attack from Rome.
Now move the cannon, and hurry it up.
I want to be home for dinner.
And there's the bar. As you can see, it's already equipped.
All licenses are on hold for now this year,
but you can turn it into a restaurant.
-[siren wailing] -So if you would just sign here.
I need to get back to City Hall.
It's crazy today.
One day you'll explain how you were able to get this permit so quickly.
-They've been backed up for years. -[horns honking]
What's going on today?
It seems like the military is shooting down Rose Island.
Now, please sign. I have to get going, okay?
[honking continues]
[siren wailing]
[reporter] Good morning, everyone. Here we are.
The showdown between the Italian government
and what is known as Rose Island has just…
It seems we're back to the days of the Cuban missile crisis.
Will Italy have its own Bay of Pigs?
[in French] We're in front of Rose Island…
[honking continues]
[footsteps approaching]
[knocks]
Come in.
"Seaside government."
We worked 20 hours a day, Sundays included,
and it looks like we're sunbathing and eating spaghetti with clams
on the beach at Ladispoli.
What can I say, Giovanni.
We always complain that this country has a short memory.
At least this time it will be positive for us.
Listen, I just need you to put your signature on this document.
Is this a joke?
[chuckling] Guys, sorry. I was the one who invented the end-of-term prank.
I'll even tell you when. Four years ago at Aldo's resignation.
We sent them this fake declaration of war from Albania.
You should have seen his face. [laughing] Beautiful, it was great.
Giulio was crying. So, who are we bombing this time?
We're bombing Rose Island. It must be destroyed.
Hmm, will we be using surface-to-air missiles or what?
I armed the Andrea Doria,
and I need you to authorize the attack for me.
You deployed a battle cruiser from Venice?
Franco, are you crazy?
Giovanni, you told me to fix the problem
by any means necessary, no matter the cost.
Now, excuse me. I told you how to fix the problem, not to bomb it.
And do you know what's the best thing about,
about a government term almost being finished?
It isn't our problem anymore.
This is an island, a summer thing. They could open again in June.
Then it'll be a problem for the next administration, not us.
So, who cares about it?
Giorgio Rosa went to the Council of Europe.
And they agreed to look into his case.
Do you know what that means?
If they agree with him, the island becomes a full-fledged nation,
very close to communist states.
So I should sign a declaration of war?
Giovanni, we are the only two people who can do something about this.
Trust me.
[sighs]
There is a warship approaching the island.
Nothing gets past you.
We have to do something.
Besides drinking?
We must go there and defend it.
[scoffs]
I'm sorry, but I don't think they're gonna let the Laura Madre through.
Not the Laura Madre,
but other boats, maybe yes.
COC, something is approaching quickly, 36 degrees east.
What do you mean, "something"?
I don't know. Many things, a small fleet I think.
Water-skiing. It's a water-skiing competition.
-During a military operation? -It was authorized by the port authority.
I don't fucking care about that! Stop them immediately!
They already paid the entry fees months ago.
It's too late for the port authority to refund them at this point.
Well, then.
Fine.
All right, tell them we're turning right now!
Neumann, we're turning!
It came from Rome. They authorized the attack, sir.
Perfect. Call the Admiral right now.
Sir? We have another problem.
I told you the water-skiing competition was a good idea.
I'm sorry, my friend. I really am.
Well, hello. I'm Neumann.
Hi, I'm Gabriella.
I'm the organizer of the water-skiing competition
that helped avoid military occupation.
Next time, we'll have to do this at the end of August.
-It's freezing right now! -If there will be a next time.
Look, Neumann's here now.
Let me talk to them. I've already been through a war.
Excuse me, but I have to put something on.
Go. Hey, look who's here!
All right. Today's objective is to wipe that pile of junk out there right off--
Admiral, sorry. We have a problem.
The civilians on the island have multiplied.
What do you mean the civilians there have multiplied?
They aren't a fucking virus.
They used the water-ski competition as a cover to get on the island.
Mr. Carrisi, you are very fortunate to be so young.
Do you know we did to people like you on our mission to Benghazi?
I'm sorry, sir.
Aim the cannons and fire two warning shots.
They're just spineless kids.
Once we start firing at them, they'll run away immediately.
Yes, sir.
[Maurizio] What do we do now?
[Giorgio] What do you think, Rudy?
What the fuck do I know?
What are you saying?
What about all those war stories?
I didn't think they'd aim the cannons at us.
Right.
Guys, they just want to scare us.
They're bluffing.
All soldiers… they're the same.
They seem aggressive, but they don't have the balls to actually--
[gunshots]
[Carrisi] Admiral, the civilians are still there holding hands.
They're challenging us, sir.
Aim closer this time.
Admiral, I'd advise against this. It's too risky.
Aim this shot much closer.
Well, I guess I was wrong. We should go now. At least we tried.
[Franca] I'm not moving.
Rudy's right. They're firing cannons at us.
Staying here is suicidal.
Think about the baby.
What do you mean?
You called him the first natural-born citizen.
Again with this natural-born citizen story?
It was bullshit, just a joke!
Giorgio, listen to me. I know how soldiers act.
-When they start to-- -It was a pleasure knowing you, Rudy.
[speaking German]
["Eve of Destruction" playing]
♪ The eastern world It is explodin' ♪
♪ Violence flarin' Bullets loadin' ♪
♪ You're old enough to kill But not for votin' ♪
♪ You don't believe in war But what's that gun you're totin' ♪
♪ And even the Jordan River Has bodies floatin' ♪
♪ But you tell me over and over ♪
♪ And over again, my friend ♪
♪ Ah, you don't believe We're on the eve of destruction ♪
It's time to send in the SEALs.
♪ Don't you understand What I'm trying to say? ♪
♪ And can't you feel the fears I'm feeling today? ♪
♪ If the button is pushed There's no running away ♪
♪ There'll be no one to save With the world in a grave ♪
♪ Take a look around you, boy It's bound to scare you, boy ♪
♪ And you tell me over and over ♪
♪ And over again, my friend ♪
♪ Ah, you don't believe We're on the eve of destruction ♪
[bell ringing]
♪ Yeah, my blood's so mad Feels like coagulatin' ♪
♪ I'm sittin' here Just contemplatin' ♪
♪ I can't twist the truth It knows no regulation ♪
♪ Handful of senators Don't pass legislation ♪
♪ And marches alone Can't bring integration ♪
♪ When human respect is disintegratin' ♪
♪ This whole crazy world Is just too frustratin' ♪
♪ And you tell me over and over ♪
♪ And over again, my friend ♪
♪ Ah, you don't believe We're on the eve of destruction ♪
♪ Think of all the hate There is in Red China ♪
♪ Then take a look around To Selma, Alabama ♪
♪ Ah, you may leave here For four days in space ♪
♪ But when you return It's the same old place ♪
♪ The poundin' of the drums The pride and disgrace ♪
♪ You can bury your dead But don't leave a trace ♪
♪ Hate your next-door neighbor But don't forget to say grace ♪
♪ And you tell me over and over ♪
♪ And over and over again, my friend ♪
♪ You don't believe We're on the eve of destruction ♪
♪ No, no, you don't believe We're on the eve of destruction ♪
[song ends]
So about…
that thing I did to your father's TV.
I'm sorry.
I never apologized.
It's okay. Who cares?
The important thing is to change the world, right?
Or at least try to.
["Sole Spento" playing in Italian]
The Council of Europe declared it couldn't deliberate on the dispute
between the Italian State and the free Rose Republic
since the island was outside European waters,
essentially acknowledging it as an independent state.
To prevent similar events from happening again,
the UN moved the borders of international waters
from 6 to 12 nautical miles, all around the world.
To this day, the destruction of Rose Island
is the first and only invasion by the Italian Republic.
Giorgio and Gabriella spent the rest of their lives together.
[song continues]
[song ends]
[upbeat music playing]