Character Relationship Map: Freaks Out

Characters

• Fulvio (played by Claudio Santamaria) — protagonist

  A circus performer suffering from hypertrichosis, granting him a full coat of hair and superhuman strength. Recruited into Franz's Berlin Zircus alongside his friends, he endures torture before escapi...

• Matilde (played by Aurora Giovinazzo) — protagonist

  A circus performer who generates uncontrollable electricity. She initially seeks circus owner Israel, joins partisans, and learns to harness her powers. During the climax, she successfully controls he...

• Cencio (played by Pietro Castellitto) — supporting

  An albino circus performer with the supernatural ability to control all insects. After being forced into Franz's Berlin Zircus and subjected to torture, he reunites with his friends, escapes execution...

• Mario (played by Giancarlo Martini) — supporting

  A circus performer with dwarfism and an intellectual disability who can telekinetically manipulate metal objects. Forced into the Berlin Zircus, he endures Franz's torture before escaping with his fri...

• Amon (played by Sebastian Hülk) — supporting
• Israel (played by Giorgio Tirabassi) — supporting

  The Jewish owner of the Mezzapiotta Circus who employs the four freaks. He initially suggests fleeing to America but vanishes after collecting their funds. Later found on a death train, he is ultimate...

• Guercio (played by Olivier Bony) — minor
• The Hunchback (played by Max Mazzotta) — supporting

  The leader of a ragtag partisan group that rescues Matilde after she electrocutes a German soldier. He attempts to utilize her powers for the resistance and later assists the four freaks during the cl...

• Franz (played by Franz Rogowski) — supporting

  A clairvoyant German pianist with six fingers who runs the Berlin Zircus. Obsessed with a prophecy about four superpowered individuals saving the Third Reich, he tortures the freaks to identify them....

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Franz → Amon (Family Brother) — Amon is Franz's brother and a high-ranking audience for his plan.

  Franz presents the four performers to his brother Amon during the major Berlin Zircus show.

• Israel → Mario (Professional Employer) — Israel employs Mario at Circus Mezzapiotta.

  Mario performs in the circus owned by Israel.

• Israel → Cencio (Professional Employer) — Israel employs Cencio as a circus performer.

  Cencio is one of the four freaks performing at Israel's Circus Mezzapiotta.

• Israel → Fulvio (Professional Employer) — Israel employs Fulvio as a circus performer.

  Israel owns Circus Mezzapiotta, where Fulvio performs as one of the four freaks.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• The Hunchback → Guercio (Alliance Partisan Comrade) — They belong to the same resistance network.

  Guercio is identified as another partisan while the Hunchback leads the partisan group.

• Matilde → Guercio (Alliance Informer And Ally) — Guercio gives Matilde the information needed to begin the rescue.

  Guercio informs Matilde about the real purpose of the Berlin Zircus.

• Matilde → The Hunchback (Alliance Rescuer And Recruiter) — He provides protection while seeking to recruit Matilde's ability.

  The Hunchback's partisan group saves Matilde after she electrocutes a German soldier, and he tries to use her power for the cause.

• Franz → The Hunchback (Conflict Enemy) — The partisan leader opposes Franz's military campaign.

  The Hunchback leads partisans who intervene against Franz's forces during the train-station battle.

• Franz → Mario (Conflict Captor And Torturer) — Franz treats Mario as a possible subject of his prophecy.

  Mario is taken into the Berlin Zircus and endures Franz's painful experiments.

• Franz → Cencio (Conflict Captor And Torturer) — Franz attempts to identify and control Cencio's supernatural ability.

  Cencio is hired at the Berlin Zircus and subjected to painful torture by Franz.

• Franz → Matilde (Conflict Captor And Adversary) — Their conflict becomes central to the circus show and final battle.

  Franz captures Matilde, tries to force her to electrocute a tiger, and later condemns her to the stake.

• Franz → Fulvio (Conflict Captor And Torturer) — Franz treats Fulvio as an experimental prisoner and enemy.

  Fulvio is hired by the Berlin Zircus, where Franz subjects him to painful torture.

• Cencio → Mario (Alliance Teammate) — They cooperate as fellow performers and fugitives.

  Cencio and Mario are recruited together into the Berlin Zircus and escape execution with the group.

• Fulvio → Matilde (Alliance Teammate) — They remain members of the same group through the escape and final battle.

  Fulvio and Matilde are two of the four performers who decide to leave the circus and later fight together.

• Fulvio → Mario (Alliance Teammate) — They share the same captivity, escape, and resistance against Franz's forces.

  Fulvio and Mario go together to the Berlin Zircus and endure Franz's tortures before escaping.

Story Analysis

Four extraordinary circus performers struggle through occupied Italy, confront exploitation and persecution, and achieve freedom through solidarity and self-acceptance.

Plot Progression

1. Circus Under Siege — Circus Mezzapiotta struggles under the pressure of World War II. Israel proposes an escape to America, but disappears with the performers' savings.
2. Paths Through Occupied Rome — The four friends evade a roundup and separate over their search for Israel. Matilde joins the partisans, finds Israel on a death truck, and confronts her fear of her own power.
3. The Berlin Experiment — Fulvio, Cencio, and Mario enter the Berlin Zircus and suffer Franz's experiments. Matilde learns the truth and is captured while trying to rescue them.
4. The Prophecy Onstage — Franz stages a public demonstration for Amon and military leaders. Matilde refuses to harm a tiger, gains control of her electricity, and frees the four performers.
5. Thunder At The Station — The four friends rescue Israel and other Jewish prisoners before Franz attacks with an army. Israel dies protecting Matilde, whose controlled energy destroys the soldiers and breaks Franz's prophecy.