Phillip Vanderpleog lives in the Japanese capital. Looking for any work opportunities, he is employed by a ‘rental family’ company, which provides clients with actors who play stand-in roles of absent loved ones. The work offers Phillip possibilities, relationships and unexpected joy that were previously missing from his life.

However, things become complicated when the line between performance and reality is increasingly blurred, as Phillip immerses himself a little too much in the roles he is hired to play.

Set against 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.

Hikari’s drama, which features an outstanding ensemble cast, is a profoundly moving and tenderly optimistic exploration of our need for connection, and a celebration of the beauty and wonder of forming a chosen family and community.

The supporting cast includes Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto, Shannon Mahina Gorman, and Akira Emoto.

‘Rental Family’ received positive reviews from critics, who singled out Fraser's performance. The National Board of Review included it on its list of the year's top 10 films.