this post was submitted on 16 Jul 2025
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First Image of Brendan Fraser in 'Rental Family' - A down-and-out actor living in Tokyo is hired as a token American guy for a Japanese rental-family company, leading him on an unexpected journey of self-discovery through the roles he plays in other people’s lives.

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[–] ogmios@sh.itjust.works 19 points 1 week ago (2 children)

What the heck is a rental family?

[–] Gerudo@lemmy.zip 38 points 1 week ago (3 children)

There is a whole industry in some Asian countries for people to hire other people as fake boyfriends, girlfriends, foreign friend or just someone to hang out with because you're lonely. As a foreigner, you could be used as a "prop" basically showing how cultured you are by having a foreigner around.

Think of it like renting pineapples for fancy dinner parties in the old days.

[–] pezhore 6 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I thought pineapple parties were orgies?

[–] sartalon@lemmy.world 6 points 1 week ago

I'm pretty sure an upside down pineapple symbol has a meaning similar to that.

Back in the day, hanging a pineapple out front was something like, "Hey, I just got back from a voyage abroad, come hangout and see what I brought back with me and listen to my tales."

Then slowly turned into just a party. But pineapples were super rare, so people would rent one.

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

That's a lemon party. Look it up.

[–] pezhore 9 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

First laugh of the day! I'll get you next time Gadget!

[–] pezhore 2 points 1 week ago
[–] IWW4@lemmy.zip 5 points 1 week ago

It is also an innovation on the concept of professional mourners. For thousands of years eastern and middle eastern cultures have hired professional mourners to make funeral attendance larger.

[–] Notyou@sopuli.xyz 5 points 1 week ago

you could be used as a "prop" basically showing how cultured you are by having a foreigner around.

Is that why Gwen had those 3 Japanese girls around her for a time? I thought it was weird having human accessories.

[–] myster0n@feddit.nl 11 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Oh, I see : you're one of those rich kids who can just buy a family outright.

[–] Melatonin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 1 week ago (2 children)
[–] clay_pidgin@sh.itjust.works 11 points 1 week ago

Grave robbing.