"I apologize if anyone was offended, it was not my intention to offend anyone."
In the aftermath of his declarations, live on Rai1 a few hours before the Oscar ceremony, on the possible success of "the Jews", because "they always win", which ended up in the sights of the Jewish community which accused him of anti-Semitism, Massimo Ceccherini tries to defuse the controversy.
But the case is still controversial: the honorary consul of Israel for Tuscany, Emilia Romagna and Lombardy, Marco Carrai, speaks of "unheard of" phrases and the group leader of Forza Italia in the Senate, Maurizio Gasparri, brings the matter to the Supervisory Authority and asks Rai "serious measures".
"First of all I was joking slightly. But I expressed myself badly: I was referring to films that talk about Jews and I wanted to say that it is not the first time that they have won at the Oscars", explains Ceccherini, co-screenwriter of Io Capitano by Matteo Garrone, which challenged as best international film The Zone of Interest by Jonathan Glazer, the story of the apparently normal life of the commander of Auschwitz and his family a stone's throw from the concentration camp, later winner of the statuette.
"I myself - he continues - had placed a small bet on the success of Io Capitano, but I knew well that the other film was a huge favourite, also because its odds for the bookmakers were very low".
"My wife gave me the biggest rebuke: if you can't express yourself, it's better if you shut up, she told me."
I Captain remains "a beautiful film", but "honor to those who won".
The controversy remains open.
Gasparri asks "why the presenter of Da noi... a libero Francesca Fialdini did not immediately distance herself" from Ceccherini and how Rai intends to make amends with "serious, drastic and immediate" measures.
On
Video Oscar, Ceccherini: 'I am the best captain, but the Jews will win'
Sabrina Ferilli also ends up in the storm for the post in Instagram stories shortly before the ceremony which went viral: "If The Zone of Interest were to win the Oscar, I know why it would win, certainly not because it is a better film than I Captain. Io Tifo Italy. Tifo Garrone!".
An allusion that many connect to Ceccherini's words and which sparks the social debate.
"Supporting I Captain by muddying the area of interest, which is an absolute masterpiece, simply sucks. Supporting Italia and Garrone like this is embarrassing", someone writes.
"After his outburst and that of Ceccherini, I'm happy that he won another film... then that film", adds another user.
There are those who won't go to see the actress's new film, Another Ferragosto.
For further information Agenzia ANSA Controversy over Ferilli's sentences on Io Capitano - Cinema - Ansa.it The actress also comments on social media blunder of teletext about the film (ANSA)
But also those who underline: "Not to defend Ferilli, who said much worse bullshit, we know that certain themes work better at the Oscars, no conspiracy."
On the web there is also space for the blunder published by Televideo on Io Capitano: in tonight's news on Garrone's failure to win, the Rai newspaper writes that the film would be inspired by the life of Captain Schettino of the Costa Concordia.
A sensational mistake that arouses criticism, but also memes and hilarity.
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