The 83rd Venice International Film Festival roared to life yesterday, September 3, 2026, with the highly anticipated premiere of Werner Herzog’s latest cinematic endeavor, ‘Bucking Fastard.’ The film was met with an enthusiastic 6.5-minute standing ovation, signaling a strong reception for Herzog’s long-gestating passion project.
Adding to the festival’s excitement, Herzog is also being honored with an honorary Golden Lion award for Lifetime Achievement at this year’s event. His decision to premiere ‘Bucking Fastard’ in the competitive section of the Venice Film Festival, having declined a non-competitive offer from Cannes, underscores the film’s significance to the revered director.
‘Bucking Fastard’ features a compelling ensemble cast, including Hollywood sisters Rooney and Kate Mara, alongside Orlando Bloom and Domhnall Gleeson. This film marks a significant milestone as it’s the first time Rooney and Kate Mara have appeared on screen together. They portray twin sisters Jean and Joan Holbrooke, whose bond is depicted as exceptionally close. Their characters are shown speaking in unison, sharing dreams, and harboring a mutual affection for Orlando Bloom’s character, Gareth Mulroney.
The film’s unique narrative follows the twin sisters on a quest for an imaginary land of true love, which they pursue by digging a tunnel through a mountain range. The inspiration for this unusual plot comes from the true story of Freda and Greta Chaplin, identical twins from Yorkshire who were known in the 1980s for their obsession with and harassment of a local truck driver. The film’s distinct title, ‘Bucking Fastard,’ itself originates from a synchronized verbal slip the real Chaplin sisters made during a court trial.
Herzog has revealed that ‘Bucking Fastard’ has been a passion project he’s harbored for a considerable time. The script was reportedly written quickly after the Mara sisters were suggested for the twin roles, bringing this unique vision to fruition. In a touching tribute, Werner Herzog has dedicated ‘Bucking Fastard’ to the late filmmaker David Lynch.