Herzog's 'Bucking Fastard' Premieres at Venice with Mara Sisters in Unison

Key points

• The film 'Bucking Fastard' premiered at the Venice Film Festival on September 3, 2026, earning a 6.5-minute standing ovation.
• Kate and Rooney Mara play sisters Jean and Joan Holbrooke who speak in unison, a technique Herzog described as unprecedented in film history.
• The project was inspired by real-life British twins Freda and Greta Chaplin, whom Herzog claims to have known.
• Herzog wrote the script in five days and began shooting after less than a week of rehearsals, citing the Maras' natural synchronicity.
• The film was entirely financed by Clara Wu Tsai, co-owner of Nets/Liberty, after initial funding collapsed.
• The film competes for the Golden Lion, having been declined by Cannes for not being offered a competition slot.

Background

This is Herzog’s first fiction feature since 2019. The Mara sisters had not appeared together on screen prior to this project. The film was previously discussed in our archive as a long-gestating project for Herzog, with earlier coverage noting the sisters' unique rehearsal process and the film's surreal narrative involving a tunnel to an imaginary utopia.

How outlets are covering it

Vulture and AP News emphasize the logistical and artistic uniqueness of the production, highlighting Herzog’s rapid writing process and the Maras' seamless synchronization. Variety focuses on the critical reception, noting the 6.5-minute ovation and the film's competition status. The Guardian, however, offers a sharply negative review, calling the film a 'dud' that wastes the talents of the Mara sisters and describing the plot as aimless and throwaway. While Vulture notes the film's dedication to David Lynch and its non-CGI deer scene, The Guardian criticizes the characters as 'essentially silly' and the narrative as inconsequential. The outlets also differ on the financing: Vulture highlights Clara Wu Tsai's role, while other sources focus on the festival's competitive trajectory.

Why it matters

The film represents a significant return to fiction for a major auteur and showcases an unprecedented acting technique. Its reception highlights the divide between festival enthusiasm and critical assessment, with the Mara sisters' performance being the central point of contention. The film's financing by a private individual also underscores the changing landscape of independent film production.

What to watch

The film will continue its festival run and is expected to enter the awards season, competing for the Golden Lion at Venice. Further critical reviews and audience reactions will likely determine its commercial viability and cultural impact.