Rose Island (2020)

Rose Island is the kind of true story that sounds like a tall tale until you realize someone actually tried it: a scrappy engineer builds a tiny nation on a platform in the Adriatic and dares the world to take him seriously. The film treats that audacity with a buoyant, whimsical energy—part sunny adventure, part sly comedy—while still grounding the fantasy in warm performances and handsome, postcard-bright cinematography. It’s inspiring in a pleasantly human way, less about grand speeches than the intoxicating feeling that an impossible idea might just float. If you prefer your comedies sharp-edged or your historical films sober, this may feel a touch fanciful, but if you’re in the mood for an amusing, colorful crowd-pleaser with real heart, it’s an easy trip to take.

Rose Island clearly wants to be a breezy, crowd-pleasing true-story romp about a dreamer sticking it to the system, and the premise is genuinely irresistible. The problem is it often settles for a safe, bland tone and a slow rhythm, so the story’s natural tension and absurdity never fully ignite. If you’re hoping for sharp comedy, real emotional punch, or a historically grounded drama, this can feel like a wasted opportunity with too many softened edges. Still, the sunny Italian setting and the underdog spirit can make it a decent watch if you’re in the mood for something light and undemanding rather than memorable.