- Release year: 2024
- Director: Shiori Itô.
- Producers: Hanna Aqvilin, Shiori Itô and Eric Nyari.
- Screenplay by: Shiori Itô.
- Cinematography by: Hanna Aqvilin, Yûta Okamura, Keke Shiratama.
Synopsis: after a media big shot rapes her, a journalist turns her traumatic experience into the starting point of a movement to change Japan’s outdated laws regarding sexual violence.
Shotgun Commentary: one of the hardest things women can watch, and one of the most imperative for men to watch.
Review
Black Box Diaries is a documentary created by the victim of a rape case, Shiori Itô about her experience dealing with her assault legally, socially, and personally. It should be compulsory to watch this documentary in schools in order to raise a more conscientious society where things like these do not happen. A heinous act like rape should not even come to a person’s mind, and the fact that more and more people are assaulting and even murdering women without any motivation other than their gender is not only ludicrous, but also a worrying reflection of the corrupt mentality of the society.
Barely scratching the surface
In a world where the citizens of the most powerful country chose to be led by a convicted rapist, features like this are more relevant than ever. After the #MeToo movement, there was hope for equality, things seemed to be moving forward, but we have become complacent with a situation that is still far from anything remotely resembling equality. This has opened the door to many reactionary governments that have brought nothing but amendments to take away people’s rights and liberties.
The fact that Itô had to waste eight years of her valuable life to prove that she had indeed been attacked by a monster is not only shameful, but downright deplorable. You might be thinking, yeah, but that was then and now it is different. Great mistake, check out the US current abortion laws, or the legal age to marry all over the world, and you will see that we are no more evolved than we were decades ago.
Heroes like Shiori Itô should not need to exist. Her actions are bravery are as inspiring and useful as they are heartbreaking and frustrating. She has the bravery to face the world’s ignorance and prejudice with a smile and the truth. An action that is straight out of a superhero’s playbook, but that shouldn’t be necessary in the first place. SHE should have NEVER been put in that situation in the first place.
It is on all of us
One of the most baffling things about the documentary is the lack of understanding and empathy she receives. Not only from men, but from women too. People judging her clothes, like that is a valid excuse to rape someone. Or misunderstanding her critique of the legal system with hatred towards her country. They choose what they want to see and what they want to hear. As long as it aligns with their prejudiced ideas, they don’t bother investigating any more. Because the truth is uncomfortable sometimes, and they’d rather hurt a human being with their venomous words than take five seconds to check their “facts”.
Sadly, that is how most people react to cases like this. During this documentary’s press screening at BFI London Film Festival, another feature was screened, Soy Nevenka (2024). One that reenacts the horrible ordeal that a young woman went through in Spain after she was raped by her boss, a politician. Sadly, in both cases the victim was blamed for everything and the press coverage was sexist and cruel. Luckily, both Shiori Itô and Nevenka Fernández won their cases. Even if the consequences for the perpetrators weren’t as severe as they should have been.
All in all, Black Box Diaries is one of many, but not enough, wake-up calls for society. Itô’s actions are heroic and will forever change the course of sexual-assault laws in Japan. Nevertheless, they are also a tiny step forwards in a huge road we still need to travel.
Advice to take from this movie:
- Focus less on the victim’s clothes and more on the rapist’s actions.
- Seems like an obvious one, but for obvious reasons: DON’T VOTE FOR RAPISTS.
- Education is crucial if we hope to survive as a species. Do give it the importance it deserves.
What’s your take? Have you watched Black Box Diaries? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message in my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀