Mara sisters star in Herzog's Venice premiere Bucking Fastard

Sisters Kate and Rooney Mara brought a unique sibling dynamic to the Venice Film Festival on Thursday, September 3, 2026, as they starred in the world premiere of Werner Herzog's new film, Bucking Fastard. The movie, which competed for the festival's top prize, marks the first time the real-life sisters have acted together on screen. The film, directed by Herzog from his own screenplay, is inspired by the true story of British identical twins Freda and Greta Chaplin, who became tabloid figures in the 1980s. In Bucking Fastard, the Mara sisters play Jean and Joan Holbrooke, two sisters so inseparable that they speak in perfect unison, share the same dreams, and fall in love with the same man, played by Orlando Bloom. After their lover leaves them for another woman, the sisters embark on a series of increasingly fantastical acts, including digging a tunnel through a mountain range in search of a place they believe holds true love. The premiere at the Sala Grande was met with a warm reception, including a six-and-a-half-minute standing ovation. An emotional Herzog was seen wiping away tears and blowing a kiss to the audience.