Shadows on the Wall | Rental Family

Rental Family

Review by Rich Cline | MUST SEE

dir Hikari
scr Hikari, Stephen Blahut
prd Hikari, Julia Lebedev, Eddie Vaisman, Shin Yamaguchi
with Brendan Fraser, Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto, Akira Emoto, Shannon Mahina Gorman, Kimura Bun, Shino Shinozaki, Nihi, Takao Kin, Paolo Andrea Di Pietro, Shinji Ozeki, Gan Furukawa
release US 21.Nov.25,
UK 9.Jan.26
25/Japan Searchlight 1h43

TORONTO FILM FEST

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Astutely exploring a very present-day sense of isolation, this Tokyo-set comedy-drama offers Brendan Fraser one of the best roles of his career. Japanese filmmaker Hikari and her cowriter Stephen Blahut create remarkably honest characters, each with their own issues and specific journeys through a narrative that is thoroughly engaging. So while the film is very funny, the way it digs meaningfully under the surface is what moves us.

Having lived in Japan for seven years now, Phillip (Fraser) has no intention of returning to America, even though his acting career has stalled after a couple of goofy TV adverts. Then he meets Tada (Hira), who runs Rental Family Inc with colleagues Aiko (Yamamoto) and Kota (Bun). They assign Phillip jobs as the groom at a wedding, as a journalist interviewing an acting legend (Emoto) with dementia, and as a father to precocious young Mia (Gorman), who thinks he's really her long-lost dad. And Phillip can't help but get too involved with these clients.

With skilful writing and direction, each of the characters feels so authentic that we want to know more about their back stories. Their reactions to each other are remarkably telling, as are decisions they make as they begin to realise the transformative power of kindness. Events unfold at a gentle pace that is continually punctuated by amusing bits of comedy, amusingly depicting the way we all play roles every day.

Fraser is almost ridiculously likeable as the awkward, yearning Phillip, who invests in these roles because he has nothing else going on. In the evening, he gazes longingly at neighbouring flats, where people seem less lonely than he is. Hira and Yamamoto are excellent as cohorts who need to have their eyes opened as well. Gorman is a force of nature as Mia, a young actor to keep an eye on. And Emoto is simply wonderful as the sparky veteran who takes Phillip on a reckless road trip.

As Phillip begins making real connections, even though he shouldn't, his perspective begins to shift. And this has an effect on the people around him as well. Watching him express his deeper feelings is actually inspiring, as his honest compassion creates unusual bridges to his adoptive culture. The film is packed with delightful little scenes that catch us by surprise, forcing us to explore the way we relate to the people around us. And the delicate final image offers an important kick, reminding us where to start.

themes, language 16.Oct.25

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