Keiko Oginome Movies
- 2003
This erotic drama from director Masahiro Kobayashi was filmed almost entirely alongside the austere, snow-filled landscape of the Japanese island of Hokkaido. Featuring Kill Bill alumni (Kazuki Kitamura) as unhinged loner Kenji, Onna Rihatsushi No Koi takes off when salon owner Harumi (Keiko Oginome) is kidnapped and ferried off to a broken-down shack that Kenji has deemed appropriate for their new life together. Though Harumi initially begs to go home, she eventually comes to see her kidnapper as a viable alternative to Ikuo (Jiro Sato), her gambler husband -- particularly in the bedroom. Ikuo eventually finds and confronts Kenji, and forces him to explain his obsession with Harumi. The film also features Yutaka Nakazawa, Yasufumi Hayashi, and Naoto Takenaka. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kazuki Kitamura, Keiko Oginome, (more)
- 2000
Celebrated Japanese filmmaker Kaneto Shindo, at 88, was the world's second-oldest working director when he made this biopic of character actor Taiji Tonoyama (Portugal's Manoel de Oliveira, age 91, held the distinction of being the oldest). Tonoyama, who acted in 250 films throughout his career -- many of which were directed by Shindo -- began working as an actor in the 1950s. His first lead role was in Shindo's The Island (1960), a dialogue-free film shot while Tonoyama was suffering from cirrhosis of the liver. Despite his prolific output, the actor was more widely recognized for his off-screen activities, which included womanizing and excessive drinking. Shindo's biopic opens with Tonoyama (played by Naoto Takenaka) flirting with the 17-year-old Kimie, with whom he would maintain a relationship for the rest of his life, despite his quasi-legal marriage to wife Asako. Over the course of the film, much attention is paid to the competition between the two women, and it becomes clear that their relationship was as compelling as their respective ties to Tonoyama. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Naoto Takenaka, Hideko Yoshida, (more)
- 1994
A samurai and his companions become "ronin" (masterless samurai) when their master is forced to commit suicide after a failed assassination attempt on a corrupt noble. Although they appear to be reduced to begging in the streets, it is all part of their plan for revenge on the noble who caused their master's death. ~ Brian Gusse, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Koichi Sato, Keiko Oginome, (more)
- 1984
Somewhat reminiscent of The Incredible Journey and Milo and Otis -- though much harsher in its approach -- Antarctica focusses in on a team of sled dogs, owned by a team of snowbound Japanese researchers. A relief team is long overdue, forcing the dogs to fend for themselves. Eight of the dogs break free from their chains, roaming the Antarctic wastes in search of food and shelter. Only two of the dogs survive the ordeal, indication enough that this film is not specifically designed for the family trade. Based on a true story, Antarctica was a box-office smash in Japan, though this success was not repeated when the film was distributed internationally. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ken Takakura, Tsunehiko Watase, (more)
