Introduction to Rental Family
The film Rental Family, directed by Hikari, is a comedy-drama that has the potential to be an award candidate. It features Oscar winner Brendan Fraser and Takehiro Hira, and is set to be released by Searchlight Pictures on November 21.
Plot and Production
The movie follows Fraser as a struggling actor in Tokyo who starts working for a Japanese "rental family" as a replacement for the support of life for the life of customers. He gains insights on the way, and the story explores themes of identity, community, and human connection. The production companies behind the film are Sight Unseen and Knockonwood.
Director and Cast
Hikari has previously directed episodes of the Netflix show Beef and HBO Max’s Tokyo Vice, as well as the 2019 Berlinale Panorama Publication Award winner 37 Seconds. She co-wrote the script with Stephen Blahut. Brendan Fraser, who won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in The Whale, stars in the film alongside Takehiro Hira, known for his role in Shogun.
Release and Festivals
At the time of writing, it was unclear if Rental Family would secure a festival premiere before its official release date. However, if Searchlight Pictures decides to premiere the film at a festival, possible candidates could be the Venice, Telluride, and Toronto film festivals, which take place in the early autumn. Later in the year, the film could also be screened at the New York, London, and AFI film festivals.
Searchlight Pictures’ Recent Success
Searchlight Pictures has had recent success with films like A Real Pain, which received two Oscar nominations and won the award for Best Supporting Actor for Kieran Culkin. The studio is also set to release Jay Roach’s comedy The Roses, starring Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch, on August 29. With Rental Family, Searchlight Pictures may have another award contender on its hands.
