Director / Writer HIKARI catches up with us about emotionally challenging scenes in her film, adapting her directing style for the actors, and the parallels between directing on Netflix’s BEEF and Rental Family.
More about Rental Family
Set in modern-day Tokyo, the filmfollows 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.