A man, Yuichi Ishii, is hired to play the estranged father of a 12-year old girl Mahiro Tanmoto. This hired actor is in fact the owner of Family Romance LLC – a company that specializes in family, friends, followers for hire.

Based on a real company of the same name, Family Romance LLC blurs the lines between fiction and documentary. Shot as a documentary but with scripted scenes, the film offers the best of both worlds. The fact that Yuichi Ishii is the real owner of the company transpires in his performances. The words might not be his but the passion and love for what he does are. Werner Herzog’s camera feels like a fly on the wall witnessing the unfolding of Family Romance LLC’s projects and requests. Occasionally, a beautiful wide shot of the Japanese landscape will cut the documentary style which only makes the film more gripping.

Family Romance LLC portrays a society in need of commotion and human contact. People are ready to buy an illusion only because the experience and the feelings are real. Yuichi Ishii might not be Mahiro’s real father but the girl’s attachment and experiences with the one she sees as her dad are. The company create fictional experiences but they have real impact on the recipients. As one of Ishii’s associates puts it, the company « creates illusions to make people feel better ». In some way, that is also what films are. Herzog might not only be looking at the company but also at himself as a director which only adds to the depth of an already rich film.

After months of lockdown, this film feels very relevant today. In Family Romance LLC, lonely people find solace in orchestrated experiences which is also what Werner Herzog offers us – a moment of connection, entertainment and pure joy.

Director: Werner Herzog
Writer: Werner Herzog
Stars: Miki Fujimaki, Umetani Hideyasu, Shun Ishigaki
Melanie Toutakova
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