Bucking Fastard — NYFF Review

Bucking Fastard is one of the most unique films of the year and marks Werner Herzog’s first fiction film in seven years. It’s also destined to be divisive, as it follows a pair of sisters who walk, talk, and act in unison, which may be grating for some viewers. Yet beneath its awkward, absurd humor lies a touching story about love and empathy. At one point, a character remarks, “Everything in this world confuses me,” and audiences may leave with the same reaction to the film itself. However, much of the film follows the sisters as they dig a tunnel in search of a place where they can finally feel like they belong, and if audiences are willing to dig below the surface of the film itself, there’s a deeper, rewarding meaning to uncover.