The actor enters Tokyo, learning the language and rediscovering purpose through his new film Hikari
LONDON:
Actor Brendan Fraser immersed himself in Japanese culture and language for his comedy role Rental family.
Directed and written by director Hikari, the film sees Fraser play Phillip, an American actor who traveled to Tokyo to star in a toothpaste commercial and ended up staying.
Seven years later, job opportunities are scarce and Phillip’s life lacks purpose. But things take a turn when he is booked by a professional stand-in service that uses actors to portray family members, friends and partners. Initially hesitant, Phillip soon finds himself connecting with his clients and becoming deeply involved in their lives.
Attending the premiere of the film at the London Film Festival on Thursday, Fraser said he was carefully considering his options after the awards season concluded, which culminated with the best actor Oscar for The Whale in 2023. Nothing piqued his interest until he came across what he described as an obscure, unusual title.
“This movie was going to be shot in Japan. This is a Japanese movie made with Japanese actors, Japanese collaborators, Japanese craftsmen, a first for me. I was always trying to find something different or different or interesting than what I had done before. It just ticked all the boxes,” he said.
Fraser, 56, found a tutor to help him with the language and traveled to Tokyo weeks before filming to acclimatise.
“We all have to communicate somehow, right? What it really comes down to is we all want the same things,” he said.
“And on top of that, the Japanese are unfailingly kind. If I ever got lost on the road, someone would take you by the hand and lead you to your destination. That kind of politeness and kindness is everything I longed for and found while I was there,” he said.
Hikari said she wanted to invert her own experiences of living in the United States as a foreigner and tell the story of an American woman adjusting to life in Japan, dealing with isolation but also making meaningful connections.
“The world is kind of in a funky place where it feels like technology is advanced and it’s incredible, but at the same time, there’s isolation between people. I feel like making a movie about connecting people was very necessary,” he said.
Rental family opens in the US on November 21st and begins its worldwide theatrical release in early January 2026.
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