In Rental Family (2025), Brendan Frasier played American Actor Phil Vanderploeg, who lived in Tokyo for 7 years. Phil works for the Rental Family Company. Since the 1980’s, Rental Family Agencies rented family members to paying clients, for what was missing in their lives. With mental health stigma in Japan, Rental Family companies provide a vital and valuable service.
In Rental Family, Phil was hired to be the father of 12-year-old Mia, played by Shannon Mahina Gorman. Mia’s Mother hired Phil to play Mia’s estranged father so that Mia could complete her admission interviews for a prestigious private school. When Mia gets into the school everything unravels. She discovers what her Mom did and that Phil is not her father.
Playing his role, Phil tells Mia that he has to return the US for work, possibly for a couple years. Tearful Mia hugs Phil, “I’ll miss you, Dad.” Although their circumstance is fake, their relationship is real. Rental Family is that poignant paradox.
In Writer and Director Hikari’s Rental Family narrative, Mia was not allowed to want her father. Although unsaid, she was not allowed to want a father. Like a lot of children from estranged families, Mia wasn’t allowed to want her Dad, want her Dad to love her. That’s true not only in Japan.
In the sublime narrative arc, Phil meets up with Mia amidst the beautiful cherry blossoms in the park. Mia poignantly asks, “Why do adults always lie?”
Phil answers, “Because it’s a lot easier than telling the truth.”
Leaning over the bridge rail, Mia says, “It’s not fair. I liked you being my Dad.”
Phil admits, “Me too.”
Mia asks, “What’s your real name?”
Phil answers, “I’m Phillip.”
Mia extends her hand up to Phil. She smiles, “I’m Mia.”
Mia grabs Phil’s hand. They walk side by side and talk. Like father and daughter.
Mia is allowed to want her father, whether by blood or not. She’s allowed to have what she wants. We’re all allowed to want.
When I was 12-years-old, I was like Mia. Dad scared the hell out of me. I wasn’t at all the son that he wanted. As I got older, I got that my Dad was my Dad. So, I chose him. Still, to be the man, who I wanted to be, to become a good man, I wanted someone to teach me. That wasn’t my Dad.
That someone was the late Mizukami Sensei. Sensei taught me Aikido for 25 years until he passed away. He was a father to me. Sensei taught me to take a glancing blow, take a risk for what’s meaningful to me. That’s having a meaningful life. Sensei was samurai. In Japanese, samurai means “to serve”. Sensei lived a life of service. He trained me to be of service to others and make a difference.
Mom also got what I wanted. She knew how much Dad scared me as a little boy. In her unconditional love, Mom gave me permission to make Mizukami Sensei my father. I was allowed to want. Mom allowed me what I wanted. I loved Mom unconditionally, too.
Years ago, Sensei, Mom, and I had dinner at his home. When Mom and I were leaving, Mom came up and grabbed Sensei’s arm.
She said, “Thank you for looking out for Jon.”
Sensei smiled and said, “He looks out for me.”
I cried as I walked with Mom to my car. Mom gave me permission to find a father. Sensei gave me permission to make him, my father. I was allowed to want. I got what I wanted, too.
We’re allowed to want, to want what’s meaningful, to want what’s possible. Yeah, I wanted to be 6’ 2” and handsome like Hugh Jackman. Although that’s impossible. That would have definitely made it easier to fall madly and deeply in love with woman, who could love me back the same way. Kind of the no brainer. Still, I love myself for who I am and forgive myself for who I’m not. I change the things that I can. I let go the things that I can’t change. That’s all I can do. I move forward.
I’m allowed to want what’s meaningful to me. I’m allowed to want a meaningful life. My late Mom and the late Mizukami Sensei taught me what is to be a good man. That’s meaningful. I have a meaningful life, because of them.
You’re allowed to want what’s meaningful to you, allowed to want a meaningful life. You’re allowed to pursue that with all of your heart. We’re all allowed. We’re allowed to be happy, allowed to be content. We’re allowed to have the life that we love. We’re allowed to be human.
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Photo by mali desha on Unsplash
