Set against modern-day Tokyo, Rental Family follows an American actor (Brendan Fraser) who 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. Confronting the moral complexities of his work, he rediscovers purpose, belonging, and the quiet beauty of human connection.

Searchlight Pictures presents Rental Family, directed, co-written and produced by HIKARI (“Beef”, “Tokyo Vice”, 37 Seconds). The film stars Academy Award® and Screen Actors Guild award winner Brendan Fraser (The Whale, The Mummy, Encino Man) with a supporting cast that includes Emmy® nominee Takehiro Hira (“Shogun”), Mari Yamamoto (“Pachinko,” “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters”), Akira Emoto (Lovers Lost, Shin Godzilla, Dr. Akagi) and newcomer Shannon Gorman. With a screenplay by HIKARI and Stephen Blahut (37 Seconds), the film is produced by Sight Unseen Pictures’ Julia Lebedev (Dear White People, Bad Education) and Eddie Vaisman (Wildlife, A Thousand and One), as well as Knockonwood’s Shin Yamaguchi (37 Seconds, Spirit World). Jennifer Semler (A Real Pain, Theater Camp), Tomo Koizumi, Blahut, Leonid Lebedev (Bad Education), Fraser, and Oren Moverman (The Messenger, Love & Mercy) are executive producers.

Joining filmmaker HIKARI behind the camera are director of photography Takurô Ishizaka (All of Us Strangers, Snake Eyes), production designers Norihiro Asoda (The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi) and Masako Takayama (“Tokyo Vice”), editors Alan Baumgarten and Thomas A. Kruger, composers Jónsi and Alex Somers, costume designer Meg Mochizuki (37 Seconds), makeup department head Hiromi Momose (Like Father, Like Son), and casting directors Kei Kawamura and Yumi Takada.

The film will be in cinemas on December 26!
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How crazy you might ask. Well, there are wanking zombies who put out fires with the climax of a circle jerk, an adjunct who climbs on top of a giant brain and self-immolates herself and Cate Blanchett with one of the worst faux German accents ever put to film. Oh, and the leader of Canada sports the type of ironic man bun that would put any barista to shame.

The seven leaders of the free world are presented as almost petulant children and it’s funny to see them act so juvenile and unprepared for the onslaught of weird about to descend upon their tightly-knit world. For reasons that are never fully explained, they start the summit under a gazebo all by themselves in the middle of an empty and mysterious German forest.

This was after they were taken to an archaeology dig where they had their picture taken while holding shovels and smiling with a two-thousand-year-old mummy with his penis tied around his neck in a box occupying centre stage. Weird falls way short as a descriptor. The running gag is that throughout all the insanity they still need to write their introductory speech, which ends up being about building a giant sundial. You know these are all the normal things that make up an entertaining and outrageous film.
Rob Hudson
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How crazy you might ask. Well, there are wanking zombies who put out fires with the climax of a circle jerk, an adjunct who climbs on top of a giant brain and self-immolates herself and Cate Blanchett with one of the worst faux German accents ever put to film. Oh, and the leader of Canada sports the type of ironic man bun that would put any barista to shame.

The seven leaders of the free world are presented as almost petulant children and it’s funny to see them act so juvenile and unprepared for the onslaught of weird about to descend upon their tightly-knit world. For reasons that are never fully explained, they start the summit under a gazebo all by themselves in the middle of an empty and mysterious German forest.

This was after they were taken to an archaeology dig where they had their picture taken while holding shovels and smiling with a two-thousand-year-old mummy with his penis tied around his neck in a box occupying centre stage. Weird falls way short as a descriptor. The running gag is that throughout all the insanity they still need to write their introductory speech, which ends up being about building a giant sundial. You know these are all the normal things that make up an entertaining and outrageous film.
Rob Hudson

Rumours is currently screening at the Brisbane International Film Festival and will be released in Aussie cinemas December 5!
The Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF) is a celebration of cinema as art, entertainment and industry, for everyone seeking bold and unforgettable experiences.

An annual event, held over 11 days from Thursday 24th October to Sunday 3rd November 2024 and spread across several wonderful locations in Brisbane.

This years festival will showcase over 40 feature films and 40 short films from home and abroad, filmmaker Q&As, industry and student events.

Rumors BIFF Session details
Palace Barracks
Saturday 26 October | 3:00PM

Dendy Portside
Friday 1 November | 6:15PM

New Farm Cinema
Friday 1 November | 5:00PM
www.biff.com.au

Upon arrival in Japan, the Arashikage teach Snake Eyes the ways of the ninja warrior while also providing something he’s been longing for: a home. But, when secrets from his past are revealed, Snake Eyes’ honor and allegiance will be tested – even if that means losing the trust of those closest to him.

Based on the iconic G.I. Joe character, Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins also stars Andrew Koji as Storm Shadow, Úrsula Corberó as The Baroness, Samara Weaving as Scarlett, Haruka Abe as Akiko, Tahehiro Hira as Kenta and Iko Uwais as Hard Master.

Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins will be released in Australian cinemas July 22!
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