Phillip Vanderpleog 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.

BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express.

Explore the London Film Festival programme at Showroom Cinema.

Director HIKARI
Year 2025
Duration 1h 50m
Language English, Japanese with English subtitles
Cast Brendan Fraser, Takehiro Hira, Mari Yamamoto