Rental Family

What it’s about

Phillip Vanderploeg has spent seven years in Japan with little to show beyond a toothpaste commercial. He takes a job with a rental family agency, stepping into roles like a wedding groom, a journalist interviewing an elderly actor, and a father to a schoolgirl. The work feels odd at first, but he grows attached to the people he plays for.

What hooks you

Brendan Fraser plays Phillip, a role he links to the ethics of temporary bonds and surrogate attachment. The film is directed by Hikari, who also wrote the screenplay, and it has won awards.

Who it’s for

It is worth a look for anyone who likes comedy and drama that examine identity and emotional healing through an unusual premise, set in Tokyo and centered on social isolation and self-discovery.