An American actor in Tokyo 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.
Hikari’s Rental Family may just be the most gentle, human film you’ll see all year. It’s the kind of film we need more of, as it captures the people’s loneliness and need for connection — with family, friends, and even strangers — with a tenderness that I haven’t seen in a while. The Film is not only a beautifully told story but also a drama that employs a good dose of heart and humor. It’s touching without being heavy-handed, and really gets to the heart of these characters. (screenrant)