Audio English, Japanese; Subtitles English

American actor Philip Vanderploeg struggles to make a living in Tokyo. Unfortunately, his advertising gigs just aren’t cutting it anymore. Philip is not only dissatisfied with his career, but struggles to form meaningful relationships with others as well. However, his boring routines change up when he gets hired by an agency that rents out actors as companions in real life. Suddenly, Philip is no longer facing a camera, but real people, whom he supports in the role of a friend or family member. Over time, he grows to enjoy his new and unusual work.

“Rental Family” uses little dialogue to convey the experience of loneliness and companionship in a big city. The film aims to portray those feelings through emotional scenes and explores how things unfold when the boundary between professionalism and attachment is crossed. As Philip fills the gaps in these people’s lives, he grows progressively closer to them. At what point does the performance become reality? (TS)