Quatro Paredes

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.

"Black Box Diaries," directed and starring Shiori Itô, is a documentary that transcends a personal narrative to become a collective outcry against a culture and legal system that allow sexual violence to go unanswered. From the very first moments, the brutality of what happened to Itô is laid bare through surveillance footage showing her being dragged, vulnerable and unconscious, by the man who would go on to shatter her-physically, emotionally, and (almost) socially.

The documentary's power lies in Itô's ability to turn pain into action. This isn't a plea for sympathy; it's a demand for attention. In recounting her fight against Noriyuki Yamaguchi, a man shielded by his power and political connections, Itô doesn't just expose her assailant but also a legal system that catastrophically failed her. "Black Box Diaries" paints a disturbing portrait of contemporary Japan, spotlighting how an outdated, insensitive law from a bygone era still governs sexual violence cases.

Itô's choice to show her vulnerability-whether it's crying at an unexpected gesture of support or nervously laughing in moments of discomfort-makes the film a deeply intimate experience. She takes us through her journey of trauma and recovery with relentless honesty. This is a raw, unpolished portrayal that refuses to hide the emotional scars left by her ordeal. Even the documentary's evolving visual style, moving from rougher aesthetics to a more polished finish, mirrors Itô's transformation-from a withdrawn victim to a confident filmmaker and activist.

The film also shines a harsh light on the widespread insensitivity in Japanese society toward survivors of sexual violence. Messages Itô receives, like one from a woman who expresses sympathy for her assailant or advice to avoid showing her face in public, are heartbreaking. They reveal how survivors are often put on trial themselves, judged for their "exposure" instead of being supported for their courage. This revictimization, both in court and in the public sphere, is one of the most striking aspects of "Black Box Diaries."

The decision to include moments where Itô speaks directly to the camera or films herself in private settings is a masterstroke. These scenes feel like intimate confessions, acts of trust that heighten the urgency of her story. The metaphor of the "black box" is particularly potent-the idea that her story, like an airplane's black box after a crash, holds undeniable evidence of a tragedy that cannot be ignored.

Visually, the documentary is simple but never simplistic. The lack of elaborate aesthetic flourishes keeps the focus squarely on Itô's narrative, creating a claustrophobic atmosphere where every word and gesture carries weight. This stylistic choice reinforces the film's authenticity, ensuring the story is told with unfiltered clarity.

One of the most moving moments comes during a phone call with the hotel doorman, who, despite the risk of losing his job, decides to testify about what he witnessed that night. Itô's reaction-crying and repeatedly thanking him-encapsulates the fragility and strength that define the entire film. These moments remind viewers that while Itô's bravery is extraordinary, she is, at her core, just a person taking on a colossal system.

"Black Box Diaries" isn't just a documentary-it's an act of defiance. It's the testimony of a woman who refuses to be silenced, turning her story into a tool for change. Watching it, you can't help but question the power structures that enable impunity and your role in challenging them. The film is a powerful, necessary work, reminding us that individual acts of courage can illuminate systemic flaws and maybe even spark their transformation.

Being a documentary filmmaker is most assuredly hard, but then also being the focus of your own work even more so. But thankfully journalist Shiori Ito is no ordinary creator nor subject. As a bold and brave one-woman powerhouse who decides to get justice or die trying after being assaulted by a high-profile colleague, Ito displays both tenacity (she goes after the police chief with camera Nick Broomfield style!) and vulnerability (her honesty is heartbreaking) that is all but lacking from non-fiction flicks of late. Not to mention her examination and exposing of the Japanese legal system is a real eye-opener to the uninitiated. At a time when docs have become safe, Ito proves bold is better - can't wait to see what she tackles next.

This film should be mindful that attorneys, acting on the wishes of copyright holders whose materials have been used without permission, have issued demands for immediate editing or deletion. These demands come from the very attorneys who represented the director in the civil lawsuit that features prominently in the film itself. If the attorneys' demands are indeed valid, it may discourage individuals or organizations from supporting evidence collection, even when survivors of sexual abuse bravely come forward. Such an outcome would deliver a severe and lasting blow to efforts to hold perpetrators accountable and secure justice for victims. Should this happen, it would call into question the very purpose for which the film was produced and publicly released.

Japan's #meetoo moment. Hardly the same impact, because Japan is a shamelessly patriarchal society with a 100 year old rape law. A government official states that only 4% of victims actually come out and go to the police. 4%. And of those very few are prosecuted. This woman had witnesses, video footage of being incapacitated, some DNA on her body and yet... Kudos to the taxi driver who actually spoke on camera about what he saw and heard.

When will we stop repeat victimizing and shaming women? Why is the sufferer of sexual crimes shamed and blamed and told to hide themselves and the offender not even talked about? Why are we using euphemism like "incident"?

This woman was clearly drugged to render her incapacitated and unable to resist. Men have been trying to get women drunk, drugged, to render them unconscious by any means for ages. It does not equal consent. Of course they know that. That's what they are trying to avoid.

There are no consequences here for the politicians and the police chiefs. The footage of the parliament hearings is infuriating.

Shiori Ito had support from friends and lawyers. She lost her livelihood. She was insulted and threatened. She became anxious and depressed. Now imagine what this could mean for a woman with no means and no people around her to have her back. And that is why most women choose to keep quiet. They whole lives are at stake. Stop asking women why they don't come forward. This is why. They are treated like criminals.