Black Box Diaries

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Black Box Diaries

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1h 43m

Documentary

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57 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and emotional first-person video, Shiori's quest becomes a landmark case in Japan, exposing the country's desperately outdated judicial and societal systems.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

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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

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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

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Matt Pais

MattPais.com

Though it could use a tad cleaner storytelling, “Black Box Diaries” remains an essential documentary.

Rated: B+

Dec 12, 2024

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Monica Reid

Far Out Magazine

The documentary presents both the disappointing aspects of the legal decisions and the more encouraging ones.

Rated: 3.5/5

Nov 24, 2024

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Laura Clifford

Reeling Reviews

Using confessional phone video, a camera crew, security camera footage and television news, Itô weaves together a personal story with far reaching implications.

Rated: B+

Nov 11, 2024

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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