Event
Rental Family
“thanks to Hikari’s elegant direction, a nimble and melancholic script by Hikari and Stephen Blahut, and the tenderhearted and attuned performances by an ensemble led by Brendan Fraser, Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto, and Akira Emoto, this is a beautiful and contemplative film, with lovely messaging and a couple of sly twists.” – RogerEbert.com
“It’s a testament to the cast, the screenwriting and Hikari that all these narrative threads weave together for an uplifting message about our need to connect with others and be part of a community.” – San Jose Mercury News
“The arc of the film seems clear; we’re about to witness people rediscovering the importance of human connection. Grab the tissues!” – Washington Post
Set in modern-day Tokyo, RENTAL FAMILY follows an American actor (Brendan Fraser) who struggles to find purpose until he lands an unusual gig: working for a Japanese “rental family” agency, playing stand-in roles for strangers. As he immerses himself in his clients’ worlds, he begins to form genuine bonds that blur the lines between performance and reality. Confronting the moral complexities of his work, he rediscovers purpose, belonging, and the quiet beauty of human connection.
