We have some trailer and release news today as Dogwoof has released its UK trailer for BLACK BOX DIARIES. Filmed, written and directed by Japanese filmmaker and journalist, Shiori Ito, this is her courageous and devastating account of the investigation of her sexual assault, based on her international best-selling memoir, ‘Black Box’. Her quest becomes a landmark case, exposing Japan’s outdated judicial and societal systems.
BLACK BOX DIARIES was a hit at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year and picked up the HUMAN: RIGHTS Award at CPH: DOX 2024 in March as well as being one of the Top 5 Audience Favourites at Hot Docs Canadian Documentary Festival.
When 28-year-old aspiring journalist Shiori Ito goes public in May 2017 with her rape allegation by then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s closest journalist and biographer, she feels she has no other choice in order to change Japan’s antiquated sexual assault laws. Her press conference shocks the public in a society where speaking up on such matters is considered shameful. Within days, Shiori is swept into the center of Japanese politics — the right wing views her as a threat to bring down the Abe government and the left hail her as a hero for the same reason. Death threats, cyberbullying, and hate mail take Shiori into a downward spiral. When she files a civil case, the accused rages all-out war against her. Determined not to set a bad example for other victims, Shiori pushes forward with her case and resolves to publish a book about her experience.
Directed by herself with the most personal of material, BLACK BOX DIARIES captures Shiori’s tumultuous, heart-wrenching, and ultimately triumphant journey, going behind the headlines to reveal what has been like to walk in her shoes. The documentary reveals the personal toll of a society’s web of politics, media, and technology on the humanity of its individuals. Being both victim and journalist investigating her own case, the documentary shows that what Shiori did was not only to create social change but ultimately to keep herself alive.
Filmed, written, and directed by Shiori Ito, produced by Hanna Aqvilin and Eric Nyari, edited by Ema Ryan Yamazaki, cinematography by Yuta Okamura plus original music by Mark De Gli Antoni.
Black Box Diaries In UK cinemas from 25th October
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
