Directors UK Podcast Hikari in conversation with Will Sharpe on Rental Family
Feb 18, 2026
They explore cross-cultural directing and how to film bilingual performances. Conversation covers improvisation, rehearsals and language coaching for authentic Japanese-English scenes. There is discussion of casting choices and shooting on location across Tokyo and Kyushu.
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How Research Turned Into The Film's Theme
- The idea for the film came when co-writer Stephen Bly discovered various Tokyo service subcultures like butler cafes and rental relationships.
- Their research plunged into why these services exist and revealed loneliness as the central theme amplified during the pandemic.
Cut To Emotional Core Early
- Trim structural set-pieces in editing to reach the emotional core faster.
- Hikari removed an opening audition sequence and moved quickly to the protagonist's life to accelerate audience connection.
Show The Politics Instead Of Explaining Them
- Showing a character's agency on screen can be more powerful than verbal backstory.
- Hikari removed explicit exposition about Aiko's abuse because her performance and her quitting conveyed it more strongly.