Director Werner Herzog premiered his latest film at the Venice Film Festival, where it received a standing ovation. The drama centers on two Irish sisters, played by real-life siblings Kate and Rooney Mara, who communicate and move in synchronized unison throughout the film.
The characters, named Jean and Joan Holbrooke, share thoughts, dreams and romantic interests. When a neighbor and former romantic interest marries another woman, the sisters pursue a series of increasingly disruptive actions to win him back, eventually becoming tabloid subjects. They are assigned a social worker to help them adjust to contemporary life. The narrative follows them as they relocate to Ireland’s West Coast to live with their aunt, where they undertake an ambitious project to tunnel through a mountain range, believing it will lead to the Orkney Islands, which they regard as a place where genuine love can exist. The film draws inspiration from a true story involving identical twins from England who became widely publicized following a court case in 1981.
Both actresses expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity to collaborate with Herzog. Kate Mara noted she had long admired his documentary work and considered the project a personal achievement. Rooney Mara stated she would have accepted any role simply to observe his directorial process. When asked about concerns regarding Herzog’s well-known unconventional approach to filmmaking, Kate Mara indicated her primary concern involved executing the synchronized performance rather than any apprehension about working with him.
Herzog addressed his public reputation by stating he maintains strict organizational standards and professionalism on set. The director attributed much of his public image to media fabrication. During production, Herzog implemented an unusually generous rehearsal schedule, allocating two weeks for preparation—a rarity in his career. After observing the sisters’ prepared work for one week, he halted formal rehearsals, indicating their performance had reached the desired level. The production operated with minimal takes, typically completing scenes in two or three attempts using a single-camera setup with limited coverage.
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