Werner Herzog, Rooney Mara and Kate Mara Talk ‘Bucking Fastard’ at Venice Film Festival

Werner Herzog is back at the Venice Film Festival with ‘Bucking Fastard’, a surreal new drama that marks the first time real-life sisters Rooney Mara and Kate Mara have starred in a film together. The film premiered in competition at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival on Sept. 3, 2026.

The 109-minute film, which Herzog both wrote and directed, tells the story of Jean and Joan Holbrooke, fictional sisters whose unusually tight bond causes them to speak in unison, share the same dreams and fall romantically for the same man. Orlando Bloom plays Gareth Mulroney, with Domhnall Gleeson also in the cast.

One of the film’s trickiest elements was getting the sisters to deliver their lines in perfect synchronization. Throughout much of ‘Bucking Fastard’, Rooney and Kate Mara speak together, creating an unconventional rhythm that sits at the heart of their characters.

Having grown up together helped the actresses pull off the demanding technique. By all accounts from Venice, Herzog was pleasantly surprised by how quickly the sisters found their natural rhythm what was originally supposed to require weeks of rehearsal happened much faster than expected.

Kate Mara compared the synchronized dialogue to a musical performance, while Rooney called the experience of making the movie with her sister a rare, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Their genuine closeness clearly informed Herzog’s vision for the story, transforming what could have been a gimmick into something that feels essential to the characters’ inseparable identities and shared experiences.

Herzog drew inspiration for his screenplay from the true story of British twins Freda and Greta Chaplin, who were famous for speaking simultaneously and sharing an extraordinarily close relationship. But he takes that real-world starting point and spins it into something increasingly fictional and dreamlike.

In the film, Jean and Joan become obsessed with the idea of leaving their world behind and finding a mythical place where they believe a different life and real love awaits them. Herzog blends dark comedy, romance, and fantasy to create something that sits comfortably outside society’s conventional boundaries.

‘Bucking Fastard’ represents a significant moment for Herzog, who has spent his career moving between fiction and documentary work. The Venice premiere puts his latest narrative feature squarely in the international spotlight.

Herzog has discussed how the film embraces a dreamlike structure and deliberately avoids conventional storytelling. Casting Rooney and Kate Mara adds yet another unusual dimension their actual sibling relationship becomes part of the film’s visual and emotional language, especially through those synchronized performances.

Orlando Bloom takes on the role of the man caught between the sisters’ romantic obsession. His character becomes the focal point of the strange emotional triangle driving the story forward. For Bloom, best known for major franchises like ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’, this Herzog film offers something considerably more offbeat.

The film earned a nearly seven-minute standing ovation following its Venice premiere, but critical response has been decidedly mixed. Some reviewers have championed the film’s audacious premise, the Mara sisters’ performances, and Herzog’s distinctly eccentric vision, while others have taken issue with its meandering narrative and tonal shifts.

Still, ‘Bucking Fastard’ has emerged as one of the more daring titles competing for the Golden Lion at this year’s festival. The Ireland-U.S. co-production runs 109 minutes and is vying for top honors among the 2026 competition entries.