Black Box Diaries

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Black Box Diaries

Released Oct 25, 2024

1h 43m

Documentary

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98%

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61 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

BLACK BOX DIARIES follows director and journalist Shiori Ito's courageous investigation of her own sexual assault in an improbable attempt to prosecute her high-profile offender. Unfolding like a thriller and combining secret investigative recordings, vérité shooting and emotional first-person video, Shiori's quest becomes a landmark case in Japan, exposing the country's desperately outdated judicial and societal systems.

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Critics Consensus

A deeply personal and courageous act of vulnerability created through an exercise of revelations makes Black Box Diaries a testament of Shiori Itō's commitment to truth and justice for all.

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Aparita Bhandari

Globe and Mail

An important reminder of the trials women across the world face when reporting sexual crimes.

Nov 21, 2024

Full Review

Lovia Gyarkye

The Hollywood Reporter

In its devastation and familiarity, Ito’s debut feature finds company among works that realize the power of survivor testimony.

Oct 30, 2024

Full Review

Philip De Semlyen

Time Out

It’s an unsparing, fly-on-the-wall journey through a legal and societal hellscape that raises at least as many questions as it answers.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 29, 2024

Full Review

Robert Roten

Laramie Movie Scope

The movie follows the highs and lows of Shiori's long emotional and legal journey. She cries in several scenes, and also celebrates her victories. It is quite a compelling journey.

Rated: A

Jan 17, 2025

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Jared Mobarak

Hey, Have You Seen ...?

The only way to save herself was to speak out and the only way to honor her craft was to become the apparatus necessary to be heard. It's a devastating account that reveals the heroes and villains in short order and without ambiguity.

Rated: 8/10

Jan 17, 2025

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Stephen A. Russell

Orion's Shoulder (Substack)

Vital

Dec 31, 2024

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Justin G

Remarkable insight into the almost impossible journey of a female journalist fighting a a system built to protect the perpetrators of horrific crimes. Humbling and shocking in equal measure.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/10/25

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Damon W

With a solid fresh way of telling a horrific story in a human, real way, you may be surprised. Without recreating an event, you get a victim perspective like you have not seen. The subject is a journalist who over years tells you of a journey. Not yet being shown in Japan, catch it where you can.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/09/25

Full Review

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Shiori Ito

Director

Shiori Ito

Self

Eric Nyari

Producer

Hanna Aqvilin

Producer

Shiori Ito

Producer

Mitsunobu Kawamura

Executive Producer

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Black Box Diaries: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

BLACK BOX DIARIES follows director and journalist Shiori Ito's courageous investigation of her own sexual assault in an improbable attempt to prosecute her high-profile offender. Unfolding like a thriller and combining secret investigative recordings, vérité shooting and emotional first-person video, Shiori's quest becomes a landmark case in Japan, exposing the country's desperately outdated judicial and societal systems.

Director: Shiori Ito
Producer: Eric Nyari, Hanna Aqvilin, Shiori Ito
Distributor: MTV Documentary Films
Production Co: Hanashi Films, Cineric Creative, Spark Features, Star Sands
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 25, 2024, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 7, 2025
Runtime: 1h 43m

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