IMDb 6.7 2019 HD

Family Romance, LLC

Family Romance, LLC

2019
Drama
110 min NR USA
6.189 / 10
6.7 IMDB

Love is a business at Family Romance, a company that rents human stand-ins for any occasion. Founder Yuichi Ishii helps make his clients’ dreams come true. But when…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Werner Herzog
Starring
Yuichi Ishii / Mahiro Tanimoto / Miki Fujimaki / Takashi Nakatani / Yuka Watanabe / Jin Kuroinu / Airi Coats / Shun Ishigaki

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

intriguing poignant unusual thought-provoking complex melancholic sincere observational unsettling unique ethical emotional

Reviews

I
Isabelle Dubois
Apr 8, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

This is cinema that dares to be different. Family Romance, LLC, helmed by an astute director, delves into the fascinating, ethically ambiguous world of professional stand-ins for family life. The film’s strength lies in its delicate portrayal of…

D
David Grant
Apr 8, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

Family Romance, LLC treads on unusual ground, presenting a business model that capitalises on human vulnerability. The film’s exploration of rented relationships is certainly a conversation starter, and the director attempts to imbue it with a sense of…

S
Sophia Chen
Apr 8, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

A quietly profound exploration of manufactured intimacy, Family Romance, LLC is a film that surprises with its emotional depth. The director masterfully crafts a narrative that feels both specific to its Japanese setting and universally resonant. The performances…

M
Marcus Bellweather
Apr 8, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

This Japanese import offers a peculiar yet poignant look at loneliness. The central conceit of Family Romance, LLC – a company that rents out actors to play family members – is both intriguing and deeply unsettling. The director…

E
Eleanor Vance
Apr 8, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

Family Romance, LLC presents a fascinating, almost melancholic, premise that lingers long after the credits roll. Yuichi Ishii’s direction crafts a world where love is a commodity, exploring the profound emotional vacuum that such a service seeks to…

FAQs

Yes, Family Romance, LLC is a Japanese film. Understanding the cultural context of Japan, where concepts like 'family' and social harmony are highly valued, is crucial. The film taps into societal expectations and the pressure to maintain appearances, which can lead individuals to seek unconventional solutions like those offered by Family Romance. The emphasis on discretion and the subtle expression of emotion are also characteristic elements.