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 Set in 1943 Rome, the film
tells the story of four circus performers - each
with their own peculiar characteristic - left to
their own devices when the city is bombarded and
their Jewish boss disappears.
The four are a wolfman, a dwarf attracting iron
like a magnet, an electric girl who gives shocks
to anyone touching her, and an insect-taming
albino.
They end up in a rival circus run by Franz, a
frustrated Nazi with six-fingered hands who can
predict the future and wants to use their super
powers to help prevent Hitler's demise.
"Freaks Out" is Mainetti's second film after his
well-received, offbeat 2015 superhero movie
"They Call Me Jeeg", and took longer and more
money to make than originally expected, partly
because of the strong visual effects.
In production notes, he said his latest work was
at once an adventure story, a coming-of-age tale
and a reflection on diversity.
"We were drawn to the idea of mixing together
freaks with a strongly conflictual element such
as the Nazis," Mainetti told reporters after a
screening on Wednesday.
"The characters are frightened and cowardly at
first, but then they manage to bring out the
best of themselves, and that's their real super
power."
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 Venice festival chief Alberto
Barbera said the film has echoes of the works of
two Italian cinema greats - Federico Fellini and
Sergio Leone.
But Mainetti also drew inspiration from Tod
Browning's 1932 horror movie "Freaks" and 1939
musical "The Wizard of Oz."
Acclaimed German actor Franz Rogowski stars as
the Nazi pianist turned circus manager alongside
Italy's Claudio Santamaria, whose hirsute
wolfman Fulvio looks like Star Wars' Chewbacca,
and newcomer Aurora Giovinazzo playing electric
girl Matilde.
"Freaks Out" is one of five Italian movies vying
for the Golden Lion award in the 21-film
competition line-up at this year's Venice
festival, which ends on Saturday.
(Reporting by Silvia Aloisi;Editing by Mark
Heinrich)
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