Director Werner Herzog premiered his latest feature, 'Bucking Fastard,' at the Venice Film Festival, addressing his views on neurodivergence and his return to narrative filmmaking.

Director Werner Herzog presented his new feature film, 'Bucking Fastard,' at the Venice Film Festival. The movie, which marks his first non-documentary feature in 17 years, stars sisters Kate and Rooney Mara as siblings Jean and Joan Holbrooke. The characters are depicted as intensely attached outsiders who speak in unison and embark on a quest to dig a tunnel between Ireland and the Orkneys.

Views on Neurodivergence

During the festival, Herzog rejected suggestions that his characters, known for their single-minded obsessions, serve as models for the modern neurodiversity movement. He stated that he dislikes terms like 'neurodivergence' and 'ADHD,' describing them as forms of political correctness that he finds unsettling. He argued that the sisters in his film are 'dead centre' rather than representative of a clinical aberration.

Production and Inspiration

The film is loosely based on the lives of Freda and Greta Chaplin, a pair of twins from York whom Herzog met in the 1980s. Unlike his previous works, which often focus on the cruel chaos of nature, the film features the sisters rescuing a baby fox. Herzog noted that he refused to source a fox from an animal dealer who suggested digging up a den to capture one, stating he would not participate in such practices.

Engagement with Younger Audiences

Herzog, 83, observed that a significant portion of his current audience consists of teenagers. He attributed this to his work creating 'inner life' and 'excitement' in storytelling. To better connect with his audience, he launched an Instagram account at the suggestion of his youngest son, though he noted that he does not own a mobile phone and cannot view other content on the platform.