VENICE, Italy (AFP) ― The film “The Master” cast a spell on viewers at the Venice festival on Saturday with Philip Seymour Hoffman playing a charismatic leader loosely based on Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.

Hoffman’s character takes a troubled World War II vet played by a feral Joaquin Phoenix under his wing in this latest work by Oscar-winner Paul Thomas Anderson, director of “Boogie Nights” and “There Will Be Blood.”

The film starts with Phoenix as Freddie Quell and his rapid descent into alcoholism and mental illness after the end of the war. He is rescued by Hoffman’s Lancaster Dodd, who vows to treat him as “my guinea pig and protege.”

Although there are no explicit references to Scientology in the film, there are strong parallels between that belief system and Dodd’s “The Cause.”

“There’s a lot of similarities to the early days of dianetics,” Anderson said, referring to a set of ideas and practices followed by Scientologists.

“The beginning of that movement inspired me,” said Anderson, adding: “I really don’t know a whole hell of a lot about Scientology, particularly now.”

He said he had shown the film to leading Scientologist Tom Cruise, who was nominated for an Oscar for his role in Anderson’s “Magnolia.”

“We are still friends. Yes, I showed him the film and the rest is between us,” the director said in response to a question at a press conference.

But Anderson said the centrepiece of the film, which is shot with a 70mm camera giving it an epic feel, was the bond between Quell and Dodd.

“I think we’re just trying to tell a love story about these guys,” he said.

It is also significant that it is set in the post-war era when there was “a tremendous amount of hope but a lot of bodies in the background,” he said.

Anderson added that he was surprised when Phoenix took part.

Phoenix said virtually nothing except for “I don’t know” and “No” at a press conference and walked out at one point before returning and lighting up.

“I asked him to be in every other movie I made but he said no which is a bit of pain in the ass. But this time he said yes,” Anderson said.