Werner Herzog Film
Family Romance, LLC
Directed by Werner Herzog. Starring Yuichi Ishii, founder of Family Romance.
Official Selection at the 72nd Cannes International Film Festival. Everything may be a lie, but the emotions are real.
Werner Herzog depicts
Japan's "family rental" business
A feature film shot in 2019 by legendary German director Werner Herzog, starring Yuichi Ishii, founder of Family Romance. The film had its world premiere at the Special Screening section of the 72nd Cannes International Film Festival and became a talking point at film festivals around the world.
Centering on the uniquely Japanese business of "family rental," the film has been highly acclaimed as an experimental work that blurs the boundary between documentary and fiction, questioning modern loneliness, human relationships, and the nature of "truth."
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus
"A fascinating exploration of human connection, Werner Herzog takes an unconventional path to existentialism."
73% (55 reviews) / Average 6.6/10
Story
Synopsis
Mahiro, a 12-year-old girl, barely remembers her father who went missing when she was young. For Mahiro's sake, her mother decides to "rent a father."
Meeting at Yoyogi Park, Yuichi Ishii tells Mahiro "I am your father" and apologizes for years of absence. Initially confused, Mahiro gradually comes to accept Ishii as her father.
But it's all an act — Yuichi Ishii runs a company called "Family Romance" that provides stand-ins for all kinds of relationships: family, friends, and romantic partners.
"I feel anxious every day" — the boundary between acting and real emotions becomes increasingly blurred
Stand-in Scenes Depicted in the Film
Wedding Proxy
Attending as father-in-law
Social Media Stand-in
Photoshoot in Kabukicho
Lottery Win Relived
Experiencing the best moment again
Apology Stand-in
Taking responsibility for a workplace mistake
Toward the Conclusion
In the second half, the story moves to Aomori. On a cliff by the sea with waves crashing, Ishii faces Mahiro's mother. She proposes they live together, but Ishii tells her "we need to end this."
Ultimately, Ishii suggests holding a funeral for Mahiro's "father" — by "killing off" the fictional father, he attempts to end the relationship.
Trailer
Film Information
Cast
Yuichi Ishii
Yuichi Ishii — Lead
Founder & CEO of Family Romance Inc.
In the film, he plays himself, performing "stand-in" work no different from his actual job. Director Herzog shot over 300 hours of footage to draw out Ishii's natural performance.
Critics praised him for "essential emotional intelligence and sincerity that comes through on screen" and as "a convincing character."
"It's not acting, it's sincerity" — Ishii's words symbolize the entire theme of the film.
Mahiro — 12-year-old girl
This was her film debut, yet she was highly praised for her natural performance. Her relationship with Ishii feels astonishingly real, and their bond moves audiences deeply.
Critics called her "a natural actress," praised her "impressive ability to express vulnerability," and her "always believable performance." Her scenes with Ishii were described as "astonishingly authentic."
Mahiro Tanimoto
Mahiro Tanimoto — まひろ役
The film also features many amateur actors, most with no acting experience.
Director Herzog has said, "Their natural performances are what creates the authenticity of this film."
Production
Production Background
Director Herzog meets
Yuichi Ishii
The film originated from an interview article about Yuichi Ishii written by Roc Morin, a former student at Herzog's Rogue Film School.
The interview published in The Atlantic caught Director Herzog's attention.
"This is big. We need to make a film immediately" — Herzog told Morin. Morin himself felt he wasn't ready to shoot a feature film, but Herzog proposed, "Then I'll shoot it myself."
石井 裕一
Founder & CEO
Shooting Style
Shooting Method
Director shot with a small camera himself
Crew
Minimal (just a few sound crew)
Total Footage
300-350 min
Final Cut
89 min
"I don't speak Japanese. That's precisely why I valued a more authentic atmosphere" — Herzog gave directions through an interpreter but during shooting, he didn't listen to the live translation, choosing takes based solely on the actors' expressions and atmosphere.
Script & Improvisation
Only key dialogue was predetermined; the rest was improvised by actors based on the situation
"Not a script with every line written like a typical Hollywood movie"
When a phone rang during a scene, it was kept without retake — allowing "reality to intrude"
Behind the Scenes
Station Scene
The scene where Ishii gets scolded was shot in one take. Since they didn't have filming permits, they finished shooting and left before security arrived.
Funeral Parlor Scene
Real funeral parlor staff were used as-is. Poignant scenes include checking coffin sizes and Ishii actually getting into a coffin.
Kabukicho Scene
In the scene where a gravure model hires a fake photographer, real passersby turning to look and taking photos were captured in the footage.
Farmhouse Scene
Features an oversized lottery winning ticket handmade by Director Herzog. A tastefully comical design.
Locations
東京
- Yoyogi Park (cherry blossom season)
- Meiji-Jingumae
- Kabukicho
- Robot Hotel
- Traditional farmhouse
- Funeral parlor
青森
- Seaside cliffs
Music
Ernst Reijseger
Ernst Reijseger — Composer
Reijseger also composed the music for Herzog's previous film, "Cave of Forgotten Dreams."
The melancholic, cello-driven score amplifies the film's sense of "unreality." Critics praised it as "gentle, tense music that enhances the atmosphere of stillness."
Themes & Reviews
Loneliness & Relationships
The growing severity of loneliness in modern Japanese society. Behind a business that rents out family and friends lies a desperate need for human connection.
Truth & Lies
"Everything may be a lie, but the emotions are real" — Herzog says, "Everything is acting, everything is fabricated, everything is a lie, but the one thing that is real is the emotion."
Identity
As Ishii continues to play others, he begins to suspect "maybe even my own parents were actors hired by someone." A fundamental question of who he really is.
AI, Robots & Humans
The robot hotel scene references a future where robots take on all roles. The question "Do robots dream?" challenges the meaning of human existence.
Positive Reviews
「ヘルツォークのキャリアで最も実験的な作品の一つ。現実と虚構の境界を曖昧にする手法が見事」
— Letterboxd
「2010年『世界最古の洞窟壁画』以来のヘルツォーク監督最高作」
— Rotten Tomatoes
「驚くべき映画。日本語を話せないという事実が、かえって本物の雰囲気を生み出している」
— Roger Ebert.com
「人間の存在に関する根本的な問いを投げかける、美しくシームレスにフィクションと現実を混ぜ合わせた作品」
— Film Constellation
Critical Views
「ヘルツォークの基準からすれば不均一で、技術的に粗削り」
— Variety
「ドキュメンタリーとして撮った方が良かったのでは。ヘルツォークの皮肉な語りが恋しい」
— Screen Daily
「前半は素晴らしいが、後半は予測可能な展開に陥る」
— The A.V. Club
Behind the Scenes & Making Of
Click to enlarge
Film Festivals
Screenings at Film Festivals Worldwide
Screened and invited at film festivals in 15+ countries
🇸🇪
新人賞ノミネート
Faro Island Film Festival
フォーレ島映画祭（スウェーデン）
映画の巨匠イングマール・ベルイマンゆかりの島、フォーレ島（スウェーデン）で開催される映画祭。世界中の気鋭の映画人が集う名門映画祭で、石井裕一が新人賞にノミネートされた。俳優としての初出演でありながら、映画祭の審査員から高い評価を受けた栄誉ある選出。
2019 — World Tour Screenings
第72回カンヌ国際映画祭
スペシャル・スクリーニング部門
バイオグラフィ映画祭
第46回テルライド映画祭
第24回釜山国際映画祭
ケンブリッジ映画祭 / ロンドン映画祭（BFI）
ボアズィチ映画祭
モントリオール・ニュー・シネマ国際映画祭
バージニア映画祭
コーク映画祭
セビーリャ映画祭
インヴァネス映画祭
ホーフ国際映画祭
マル・デル・プラタ国際映画祭
レトランジュ映画祭
モンドヴィジョン部門
サハリン国際映画祭
ノミネート
Distribution & Screenings
MUBI Streaming
In June 2020, MUBI acquired rights for North America, Germany, Latin America, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.
July 3, 2020
24-hour free streaming with 5-minute intro by Director Herzog
From July 4, 2020
MUBI exclusive streaming begins
Release in Japan
A one-day special screening was held in November 2019, but a general theatrical release remains undetermined. The planned theatrical release was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Official Sites & Related Links
Director Werner Herzog
Werner Herzog — Born 1942, Munich, Germany
Major Feature Films
- Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972)
- Fitzcarraldo (1982)
- Nosferatu (1979)
Major Documentaries
- Grizzly Man (2005)
- Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2010)
- Into the Abyss (2011)
Also Active as an Actor
- The Mandalorian
- Jack Reacher
- And many more
Herzog has said he "recommends reading over watching films" and wants to be remembered for his books.
Audience Voices
「斬新な映画スタイル。装飾していない自然なパフォーマンスに感銘を受けた。バイオリンの音楽と映画の雰囲気が完璧にマッチしている」
Cannes Film Festival Audience
「面白いドラマ。日本の人種差別について少し洞察があるのが良かった。映画の最後の数分が最高」
Cannes Film Festival Audience
「原題の孤独社会を浮き彫りに。幻想的で美しい映像。他のキャストも無名だが、映画の雰囲気と合っており素晴らしい」
Cannes Film Festival Audience
「ヘルツォークは孤独な人々の冷静な観察者であり、判断する傾向はない。満開の桜で溢れる東京上空のドローンショットが、無数の匿名の個人が自分の人生について走り回っている様子を映し出す」
— Rotten Tomatoes
「現実に基づいて脚本と彫刻が施された話。アーネスト・レイセガーの穏やかで緊張感のあるチェロスコアが静けさの雰囲気を増している」
FAQ
A. MUBIでのオンライン配信が主な視聴方法です。日本での劇場公開は未定です。
A. 現時点では日本でのDVD・Blu-ray発売は未定です。情報が入り次第、当ページで告知いたします。
A. はい、可能です。映画化に至った詳しい経緯、台本を公開しないヘルツォーク監督のこだわり、撮影秘話など、多くの情報を提供できます。下記のお問い合わせフォームからご連絡ください。
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