Herzog's 'Bucking Fastard' starring the Mara sisters receives standing ovation at Venice

Werner Herzog's latest film, "Bucking Fastard," opened Thursday night at the Venice Film Festival to a standing ovation lasting more than six minutes. The surreal drama follows sisters Jean and Joan Holbrooke, portrayed by real-life siblings Rooney and Kate Mara, who speak in unison, dress alike and become involved with the same man, played by Orlando Bloom. Domhnall Gleeson also appears in the cast.

The sisters' characters search for an imagined realm of true love and begin excavating a tunnel through a mountain range. This marks the first on-screen collaboration between the Mara sisters.

Herzog, who entered the theater to applause, has previously been honored by Venice with a Lifetime Achievement Golden Lion presented by Francis Ford Coppola. "Bucking Fastard" was originally invited to Cannes but the director declined the invitation because it was not placed in competition. Venice subsequently selected the film for its main competition, where it will vie for the Golden Lion award.

Herzog's history with the Venice festival includes past screenings of "Scream of Stone," "The Wild Blue Yonder," "Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans" and "My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done?".