In early September of 1972, the popular Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida came to Ibiza to film fragments ‘No encontré rosas para mi madre’, feature film based on the novel of José Antonio García Blázquez and directed by Francisco Rovira-Beleta, author of another movie filmed on the island, ‘La larga agonía de los peces fuera del agua’ (1970). This Spanish-French-Italian co-production, shot scenes in Port Vila, the Botafoc area and the cove Es Canaret, in the municipality of Sant Joan. The film also includes sets in Madrid and Barcelona.
The relationship between the actress and the director was controversial. Lollobrigida, who was also passionate about photography, insisted on using a type of lense with a longer focal distance to get her best side despite the reticence of Rovira-Beleta. Also, a scene that was to be shot during the boat trip from Barcelona to Ibiza, had to be filmed with the ship moored in the port of Ibiza because of the refusal of the Italian girl to make the journey.
Lollobrigida’s presence in Ibiza attracted the curiosity of Semana magazine, which published an extensive report on her stay on the island. Also, the popularity of the actress also allowed to distribute ‘No encontré rosas para mi madre’ not only in Europe but also in the United States with the title of ‘The Lonely Woman’.
Commentary written by Enrique Villalonga, head of the production company Filmótica.
BENPAR, Carlos. Rovira-Beleta. El cine y el cineasta. Laertes, Barcelona, 2000.
Semana. September 23th, 1972.
