A woman with dark hair and fringe wearing a yellow and white striped shirt sits at a bar counter laughing, while a man (Brendon Fraser) in a white shirt, black vest and tie smiles beside her. Both have glasses of whiskey in front of them, with a small dish of nuts on the wooden bar. The setting appears to be an upscale restaurant or bar with warm lighting and exposed brick walls visible in the background.

BFI LFF 2025: Rental Family

About BFI LFF 2025: Rental Family

After his Oscar success with The Whale, Brendan Fraser stars in HIKARI’s rich and heart-warming tale of a struggling American actor searching for a connection in Tokyo.

Phillip Vanderpleog (Fraser) lives in the Japanese capital. Looking for any work opportunities, he is employed by a ‘rental family’ company, which provides clients with actors who play stand-in roles of absent loved ones. The work offers Phillip possibilities, relationships and unexpected joy that were previously missing from his life. However, things become complicated when the line between performance and reality is increasingly blurred, as Phillip immerses himself a little too much in the roles he is hired to play.

HIKARI’s drama, which features an outstanding ensemble cast, is a profoundly moving and tenderly optimistic exploration of our need for connection, and a celebration of the beauty and wonder of forming a chosen family and community.

Presented as part of the 69th BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express.

Priority booking for Supporters' Circle members will open on 10 September 2025 at 10am. General Admission tickets will go on sale on 16 September 2025 at 10am.

Booking info

To book Accessible tickets and free Companion tickets, please visit our Accessible Bookings page. Companion tickets will initially show a standard ticket price, but once your account is set-up and you are logged in, this will be reduced to £0 at checkout.

Duration includes trailers, adverts and any Q&A/panel. For events such as NT Live, Colour Box and Reel & Meal there will be minimal advertising. We do not admit latecomers after the main feature has started and we have a limited food & drink policy.

MAC’s cinema programme has been generously supported by BFI Film Audience Network and Film Hub Midlands.

Dates and times

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