If you want to read my review of Rental Family, read this post. In レンタル・ファミリー, Phillip is an American actor who lives in Tokyo and receives a job offer. He just didn’t know it would involve acting in people’s real lives and the impact those relationships would have on his own.
Phillip Vandarpleog (Brendan Fraser) has lived in Japan for 7 years. He was trying to find substantial work until he was invited to attend a funeral.
“I’m just an actor. I don’t know how to help people.”
Shinji (Takehiro Hira), Aiko (Mari Yamamoto), and Kota (Fumiya Kimura) ran a company that sold emotions, playing roles in people’s lives.
“What I’m offering here is a chance to play roles with real meaning.”
Shinji tells Phillip that the idea was to help the client connect with what’s missing and that mental health in Japan is still very stigmatized. So, he agrees to at least give it a try.
Rental Family review: selling emotions
His first role was playing Yoshie Ikeda’s (Misato Morita) husband at their wedding ceremony, and he almost quit at the last minute.
“This is not a lie. It’s an opportunity. The parents will have the memories they want. The bride will have her freedom.”
The second role was to be Mia’s (Shannon Gorman) father. Not just at an event, but to be introduced as the real father by Mia’s mother, Hitomi Kawasaki (Shino Shinozaki).
“The girl has been a little sad lately. And her mother hopes that meeting her father will give her the confidence she needs.”
For his third role, Masami (Sei Matobu) hired him as a journalist wanting to write an article about the renowned writer Kikuo Hasegawa (Akira Emoto), who felt that the public had forgotten him.
“His daughter wants someone to interview him and honor his legacy.”
And so he continued, being a cheerleader, a video game partner, etc. He had multiple dates not only with Mia. As time went by, the connections grew stronger.
Phillip realized he hadn’t felt the emotions these events brought on in a long time, and gradually, he saw that people were staying with him, at least a part of who they were.
People just wanted to feel they existed, they were alive, and that it was great to see they were appreciated. But then, he gets accepted for a film in Korea.
Rental Family review: industry of loneliness
The affection industry in Japan is a huge market. From kyabakuras (street bars), girls’ bars, host clubs, and red-light districts, to apps.
I’m not talking about dating apps, where you can meet someone, go out, and eventually fall in love, but apps where you can find a girlfriend right then and there.
The most you’re allowed to do is hold hands. You’ll pay for the time you hire and for everything your rental girlfriend consumes during that period.
Why you should watch Rental Family
I won’t leave Rental Family ending explained or a download link here, but this is one of those Japanese movies that touches on very important issues.
Many people outside of Japan see it as eccentric, but I totally see it happening in other societies in the not-too-distant future.
Rental Family trailer
I really feel that you will like this one. So I decided to do this Rentaru famirī review. Go ahead, immerse yourself in the story, the environment and the soundtrack.
And come back later to tell me what you think in the comments. This Japanese film is a co-production with the United States and actors from both countries.
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