Black Box Diaries

2024

Documentary

10
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Certified Fresh 99% · 67 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 82% · 50 ratings
IMDb Rating 7.5/10 10 3759 3.8K

japan sexual violence justice human rights female journalist woman director

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Plot summary

Journalist Shiori Ito embarks on a courageous investigation of her own sexual assault in an improbable attempt to prosecute her high-profile offender. Her quest becomes a landmark case in Japan, exposing the country’s outdated judicial and societal systems.

Director

Shiori Itô Photo
Shiori Itô

Top cast

Shiori Itô Photo
Shiori Itô as Self
720p.WEB 1080p.WEB
908.2 MB
1280*720
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  dk  fi  no  sv  
25 fps
1 hr 38 min
Seeds 11
1.82 GB
1920*1080
English 5.1
NR
Subtitles us  dk  fi  no  sv  
25 fps
1 hr 38 min
Seeds 62

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by panta-4 8 / 10

Brave and self-documented quest for justice

Japanese journalist Shiori Ito's brave and self-documented quest for justice is a powerful and emotional exploration of Japan's approach to handling rape victims, where only 4% of such crimes are reported to the authorities.Similar to the process of writing a memoir, the creation of this film serves as a therapeutic means of confronting trauma, allowing for reflection and analysis, and enabling others to engage with her experience and empathize with the cause. Through this endeavor, Shiori Ito emerges as a remarkable figure, one who has put aside her own comfort to advocate for necessary reforms in her country's antiquated justice system.In 2015, Shiori Ito was an intern at Reuters when she was drugged and sexually assaulted by Noriyuki Yamaguchi, the senior journalist and head of the Washington bureau for the Tokyo Broadcasting System. He refuted her claims, asserting that their encounter was consensual, exemplifying the all-too-common "he said, she said" dilemma that many women face. Throughout her struggle to file charges, she encountered numerous obstacles, highlighting a flawed system where the definitions of rape and consent are murky, and the process of obtaining a rape kit for evidence is fraught with challenges. This contributes, as I mentioned at the beginning, to the alarming underreporting of such cases in Japan.In May 2017, she finally decides to go public, making one last effort to push for an investigation into her case. She documents her journey, sharing her thoughts, the behind-the-scenes aspects of the court proceedings, and the writing of her memoir - and this was the part where it felt like a rae victim exploitation documentary! Just my feeling - uneasy one. With CCTV footage from that night and interviews with peripheral figures like the taxi driver and door concierge, we witness the online vitriol directed at her and the political connections Yamaguchi had, highlighting the immense frustration and scale of her struggle.Documentaries of this nature are challenging to watch, and they should be. Ito emerges as a natural journalist, relentlessly pursuing the truth amid the chaos. She is determined and strong, yet also vulnerable and fearful for her safety. She understands that her efforts are for others who have faced similar experiences and been overlooked. Aware that she will be labeled a victim and that this could impact her career and treatment by others, her bravery shines through. The film elevates her from victim to champion, and while the trauma of the assault occasionally surfaces, it does not define her or portray her as weak.
Reviewed by peter0969 8 / 10

Hard to watch but powerful and daring

Watched this at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.Shiori Ito creates a difficult yet compelling and powerful documentary about her experiences with sexual assault and exposes the corruption of Japan's legal system and the toughness of what she has went throughout. Ito's approach on the subject was well handled with good discussions, insightful information and great presentation throughout as many of the themes, twists, and subjects explored were quite difficult to watch, yet important to understand.Ito is really brave on creating this documentary to document her story and there are some conversations that were emotionally investing and quite frustrating to watch. Perfectly capturing the struggles of victims who encounter sexual assault and the corruptions of the legal system without feeling inappropriate and exploitive. It isn't easy to create such a story and I do applaud Ito for making this.With the #MeToo movement emerged years back, many countless documentaries about sexual assault have been created that were compelling and Black Box Diaries does an amazing job on exploring the issue and exposing the corruptions behind the scene.
Reviewed by cutie7 7 / 10

Shining a Light on Silencing and Survival

"Black Box Diaries" is a deeply moving and courageous documentary that tackles a social issue that is still shrouded in stigma yet destroys countless lives. Directed by Shiori Ito, the film recounts her own harrowing experience of sexual assault by a prominent journalist in Japan, an event that made her a key figure in the country's #MeToo movement. Through raw and intimate footage, Ito bravely documents her journey to seek justice in a legal system that had seen little change in over a century. Her story isn't just a personal account-it's a powerful critique of the systemic failures that have long silenced survivors.What makes "Black Box Diaries" truly stand out is how it balances the personal with the universal. Ito's willingness to turn the camera on herself, capturing her emotions and struggles, brings a deep sense of authenticity to the film. At the same time, it sparks a much-needed conversation about sexual violence and the urgent need for change, both in Japan and globally. The documentary is not just a retelling of one woman's fight for justice-it's a powerful call to action, reminding us of the ongoing battle many survivors face and the importance of challenging the systems that continue to let them down.
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