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

Sisters Rooney and Kate Mara portray siblings who communicate in unison in Werner Herzog's new film "Bucking Fastard," which premiered Thursday at the Venice Film Festival. The 83-year-old director recalled meeting twins who spoke in unison 45 years ago, an encounter that inspired the concept but remained unrealized until he suggested using the Mara sisters instead. He wrote the script in five days, creating the fictional characters Jean and Joan Holbrooke, who embark on a literal and spiritual quest.

The sisters, appearing together for the first time on screen, said the experience was both challenging and enjoyable. > "At first it was very daunting, the idea that we were going to be playing the same person," Rooney Mara said, adding that their lifelong bond made the performance feel natural. > "I’ve never laughed so much, we had so much fun," she added. Kate Mara described speaking in unison as a musical process that came naturally.

Herzog shortened the planned two-week rehearsal to five days after the sisters quickly grasped the concept, and he later met them in Ireland for filming. Orlando Bloom, cast as the object of both sisters' affections, also appears in the film. Herzog praised Bloom for stepping beyond his typical teen-heartthrob image, calling him "the bucking fastard." Bloom said Herzog "creates a sacred space for magic to happen" and called the Venice screening a career highlight.

The film is dedicated to the late director David Lynch, whom Herzog wished could have seen the final cut. No U.S. release date has been announced.