Orlando Bloom has sparked a fierce online debate after discussing an intimate scene he filmed with real-life sisters Rooney Mara and Kate Mara in Werner Herzog's new film, Bucking Fastard.
The scene has divided viewers since Bloom opened up about it during the San Sebastián Film Festival, with some describing the premise as 'appalling', 'weird' and 'disgusting'. Others have defended the actors, arguing that the controversial sequence is simply part of their work and that all three performers are playing fictional characters.
The debate has been fuelled by one particularly unusual detail: Rooney and Kate are not sisters only on screen. They are siblings in real life, making the film's portrayal of two sisters who become involved with the same man an especially provocative proposition for some viewers.
Why Viewers Are So Divided
In Bucking Fastard, Bloom plays Gareth Mulroney, a man who becomes romantically involved with Jean and Joan Holbrooke, played by Kate and Rooney respectively.
The sisters are portrayed as extraordinarily close, speaking and moving in unison and sharing the same dreams. Their relationship becomes complicated when they both fall for Gareth, creating the unusual romantic dynamic at the centre of the film.
For some viewers, the fact that the actresses are sisters in real life has made the intimate sequence particularly uncomfortable. Online comments have described the scene as 'appalling', 'bizarre' and 'disgusting', while others have questioned why the Mara sisters agreed to appear in it.
But the backlash has been met with an equally straightforward defence: the actors are adults portraying fictional characters, and their real-life relationship does not change the nature of the performance.
That divide has become central to the conversation surrounding the film, with audiences seemingly split between reacting to the premise itself and accepting it as part of an unconventional story.
Bloom Calls the Scene 'Very Sincere'
Bloom has not described the sequence as a stunt designed purely to shock audiences.
Speaking at San Sebastián, the actor instead focused on the emotional qualities of the characters and their unusual relationship.
'There's such simplicity to the characters and [their] carnal desires, but also an innocence to the sisters,' Bloom said, according to Variety. He added that Gareth is sensitive and quickly finds himself out of his depth, describing the scene as 'a very sincere sort of moment that was created'.
His explanation offers a markedly different interpretation from the online backlash.
Rather than viewing the sequence simply as a provocative scene involving two sisters, Bloom has framed it as part of the film's attempt to explore the characters' unusual emotional connection.
Herzog Took a Hands-off Approach
Werner Herzog has also addressed how the scene was handled during filming.
The 84-year-old director said there are moments when a filmmaker needs to step back rather than dictate precisely how actors should approach an intimate sequence.
Herzog recalled telling Bloom: 'You are in bed, and you have two women in your arms. How you deal with it, I cannot give instructions.'
He later described the result as beautiful, praising the scene for its 'charm and depth'.
His comments provide an important behind-the-scenes perspective, particularly because the online response has largely focused on the provocative nature of the premise.
Herzog's approach suggests he wanted the actors to find the emotional reality of the moment rather than choreographing every reaction for maximum shock.
Rooney and Kate Mara Wanted To Work Together
The film also represents a significant moment for the Mara sisters, who had never previously starred together in a feature film.
Both actresses have spoken positively about the experience, with Kate describing the opportunity to work alongside Rooney and Herzog as a dream. Rooney has similarly discussed how filming together brought back a sense of their childhood closeness.
Their unusual ability to work in sync became central to the production. Herzog reportedly cut the sisters' rehearsal period short after being impressed by how quickly they established the physical and vocal rhythm required for the roles.
That real-life familiarity is key to understanding the film. The sisters' closeness was not created solely for the controversial scene; it is fundamental to how their characters are presented throughout the story.
What Is Bucking Fastard Really About?
Despite the attention surrounding the intimate sequence, Bucking Fastard is not simply a film built around a provocative love triangle.
The drama is loosely inspired by the real-life story of Freda and Greta Chaplin, twin sisters from northern England who attracted public attention in the early 1980s for their synchronised speech and movements. Herzog's film reimagines elements of that story through the fictional Holbrooke sisters.
The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival on 3 September 2026 and subsequently screened at San Sebastián. A wide theatrical release date has not yet been announced. For now, the controversy surrounding Bloom, Rooney and Kate Mara has given the film a life beyond the festival circuit.
Some viewers see the scene as an uncomfortable collision between fiction and the actresses' real-life relationship. Others see it as an unconventional piece of filmmaking performed by three adults doing their jobs.
Ultimately, that divide may be exactly what makes the scene so hard for audiences to ignore: the question isn't simply what happens between the characters, but whether knowing the actresses are sisters changes how viewers see what's on screen.
