Director Hikari Explains the Heartwarming Message Behind Rental Family’s Ending

After Brendan Fraser’s powerful comeback in The Whale, fans waited eagerly to see where the Oscar nominee would go next. His follow-up project turned out to be Rental Family, a touching and culturally rich story about Phillip — an American actor living in Japan who takes an unusual job playing “stand-in” relatives for clients who need emotional support or companionship. What begins as a performance quickly evolves into something far more meaningful.

In an exclusive conversation with MovieWeb, writer-director Hikari broke down the emotional core of the film and shared why the story’s uplifting ending is designed to resonate deeply with audiences.

Fake Roles, Real Connections

Phillip (Fraser) initially takes the job with hesitation, playing everything from a husband to a father for strangers. But as he steps into these lives, the boundaries between acting and authentic emotion begin to blur. Hikari explains that the intention behind Phillip’s journey is to show how even temporary or unconventional relationships can hold real emotional weight.

According to Hikari, Fraser’s character embodies curiosity, humility, and a desire to understand a culture he was not born into:

“It can even temporarily be absolutely meaningful… He’s basically never married; he marries a woman. He never had a child; he has a child. He also plays a father. That’s how he invests his life. He kept going. He wanted to learn — even as a Gaijin.”

Phillip’s openness becomes the key to his transformation, turning staged moments into heartfelt bonds.

Hikari Wants the Audience to See Themselves in Phillip

One of Hikari’s biggest hopes is that viewers experience the film through Phillip’s eyes. As he becomes more involved in the lives of his clients, he begins to help them find closure, peace, and connection — even when the “performance” ends.

His willingness to step in, adapt, and learn is precisely what Hikari believes makes Phillip a relatable character:

“He’s willing to take a step. He says he’ll do whatever the clients want, and that leads him to have this whole family. He wakes up people along the way too. I hope the audience will get in his shoes and discover what he discovers.”

Characters like Shinji Tada, played by Takehiro Hira, evolve alongside Phillip, showing how one person’s empathy can ripple outward.

A New Kind of Role for Fraser

With an 87% Certified Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes, Rental Family is shaping up to be another major success for Fraser. What makes the film stand out is how dramatically different Phillip is from Fraser’s character in The Whale. Instead of withdrawing from the world, Phillip leans into it — embracing new relationships and learning how to be part of something larger than himself.

Rental Family proves that meaningful connection can come from unexpected places, and Fraser’s heartfelt, emotionally nuanced performance anchors the story from beginning to end.