As highly personal a documentary as it gets about seeking for truth and justice, featuring the derring-do of the journalist-director who was sexually assaulted by a powerful man many years ago as she painstakingly attempts to put the demon to the sword.
Review #2,883
Dir. Shiori Ito
2024 | Japan | Documentary | 103 min | 1.85:1 | Japanese & English
NC16 (passed clean) for some mature content
Cast: –
Plot: Journalist Shiori Ito investigates her own sexual assault, seeking to prosecute the high-profile offender. Her quest becomes a landmark case, exposing Japan’s outdated judicial and societal systems.
Awards: Nom. for Grand Jury Prize – World Cinema Documentary (Sundance); Nom. for Best Documentary Feature (Oscars)
International Sales: Dogwoof (SG: Anticipate Pictures)
Accessibility Index
Subject Matter: Moderate – Ineffective Legal System; Sexual Assault; Journalism; Truth & Justice
Narrative Style: Straightforward
Pace: Normal
Audience Type: Slightly Mainstream
Viewed: The Projector Cineleisure
Spoilers: No
A Sundance offering that I’ve been eyeing for programming purposes until I learnt that local distributor Anticipate Pictures will release it theatrically in Singapore, Black Box Diaries is that highly personal documentary about truth and justice that will interest audiences who need a sobering dose of inspiration and comfort.
Tackling the awful subject matter that is sexual assault, the film brings us into the tormented headspace of Shiori Ito (who also triumphantly directs), a journalist who was raped by a man who had high-profile connections with the late ex-Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
With the legal case summarily closed because of the ‘lack of evidence’, Ito finds herself in a tight spot. If she continues to open the metaphorical can of worms, her life may be at stake. If she doesn’t, everyone will soon forget, except her.
So Ito, with her journalistic training and mindset, wills herself out of the psychological dilemma by elevating her case into the public’s eye.
“You’re the person who can bring about change.”
It’s what she’s used to—the rigourous research and fact-checking, and the sometimes clandestine tactics employed to obtain confidential info or testimony; in other words, the derring-do of a lone warrior attempting to put the demon to the sword.
At the same time, Ito’s work sheds light on the outmoded Japanese laws and legal avenues available for women who have suffered from sexual assault, calling to attention how it favours the attacker, and worst, when the offender has powerful friends.
Highly emotional at times with Ito bursting into tears on more than one occasion, Black Box Diaries proves that just simply documenting one’s lengthy, torrid journey towards closure and vindication is enough to lend voice and strength to the powerless. As of today, the film has yet to play in Japan.
Grade: B+
Trailer:
Eternality Tan 
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