Loneliness in a large metropolis is not a new subject for film. Nor is loneliness in Tokyo, Japan. It’s something that’s been explored in many a Japanese film and in a few US films as well. The first thing that might come to mind for many is Lost in Translation. In Hikari‘s new film Rental Family, this concept is handled a bit differently. Brendan Fraser plays Phillip Vandarploeug, an American actor living in Japan, trying his best to make a living while doing work that really inspires him. He mostly does commercials focusing on being this large American white man in crazy outfits. While trying to get a role on a police show, Phillip is contracted to go to a man’s funeral and be his American friend. Things aren’t what they seem as he meets Shinji, the man who hired him and the owner of the Rental Family agency.
The agency fills roles in people’s lives as the members of the agency portray friends, cheating girlfriends, husbands for fake weddings, and all the like to help make people’s lives easier, especially in connecting with other people. This continues Fraser’s excellent comeback as his performance draws you into this world, not as much as a viewpoint character, but as one that makes you question some of the reasoning behind being part of a Rental Family. He’s initially a bit skeptical because of just how easy it is to connect with people and how hard it is just to cut that off.
Are the feelings of the actors valued by Shinji and the customers? What about those who might not know what’s going on? His job is playing the estranged Western father of a young girl named Mia, so that her mother, Hitomi, tries to get her into a highly competitive school. Mia, played by Shannon Mahina Gorman, is highly skeptical at first, but the two end up creating a very close bond. The performance by Gorman is quitebelievable and captivating, with the emotions she’s able to show during the film. Shino Shinozaki plays the mother, Hitomi. She does well, but her screen time is minimal.
The other central relationship Phillip creates is with a retired actor, Kikuo Hasegawa, suffering from dementia and kept under close watch by his daughter, Masami. Phillip is acting as a journalist doing a profile of him to keep him company and listen to the stories of his storied career. Akira Emoto plays Kikuo with such a great exuberant energy that radiates off the screen. Both do well to show how these two men connect and become friends quickly, as Kikuo’s loneliness and desire to finish his life on his own terms come across wonderfully.
Takehiro Hira plays Shinji, and his subtle performance will have you wondering just what his goals for this company are and why he has such an interest in Phillip. Mari Yamamoto plays Aiko, who is the main co-worker we get any time with besides Phillip, and her arc is not as satisfying because, at least for me, I wanted more. I wanted to see more of her change with the addition of Phillip to the team. It led me to think that if this were a series, we’d definitely get more of this plot line and more of her internal conflict. Yamamoto is excellent with the time she gets on screen.
Hikari, who’s done directing on the shows Tokyo Vice and Beef, has a careful and subtle mood to this film. The script flows nicely, and nothing really feels out of place or rushed. You also understand each character, their motivations, and the resolution is satisfying. Takurô Ishizaka‘s cinematography is very serene and beautiful. It shows a Japan that is full of life, but also one that has a quietness to it, so that you can think about life. It works well with the story being told and the experience we see Phillip go through. The score didn’t impact me much, and neither did the sound, but there isn’t anything in this film sound-wise that’s supposed to knock you back anyway.
Rental Family is a great film, and it’s perfect for the holiday season. It has strong performances by its cast and a story that has a lot of heart and a good window into the human experience and the need for human connection. It’s worth going out to see.
