BLACK BOX DIARIES

It takes society's most fearless to speak when others cannot. In the case of Japanese journalist Shiori Itō, her journey with bringing the #MeToo movement to Japan was made all the more remarkable with the simple decision to put it all on camera, resulting in 2024's best documentary, 'Black Box Diaries'. With a staggering amount of honesty, vulnerability and strength, Itō gives audiences unfiltered access into five years of her life as she seeks justice. It's not an easy watch by any means, but it is one of the most confronting and moving experiences you'll have all year.

The following review will discuss sexual violence. For immediate support, please call the Sexual Assault Crisis line on 1800 806 292 or Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14.

In 2015, Itō was the victim of a horrific sexual assault at the hands of a fellow journalist, who just so happened to be a close friend of the former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Two years of silent suffering and being ignored by the Japanese legal system left Itō even more despondent and broken. Against the advice of her family, Itō decided to take her story public, a trailblazing moment in the Japanese media that would consume her efforts, fill and then drain her of hope daily, and almost end her life. Recorded phone calls and meetings, off-the-cuff iPhone footage and archival parliamentary footage weave the tapestry of Itō's journey as she writes and releases her book "Black Box", yet another step Itō takes to have her story taken seriously. When the only police officer investigating Itō's case is dropped, it confirms the notion that Japan's power elite are conspiring to cover up their own crimes, and we see Itō's devastating reaction to this in real time.

Not only does the documentary cover Itō's struggle to bring her assailant to justice, but also acts as an indictment of the systems that silence survivors in the first place. It's easy to see why her family doesn't want her speaking up; from her very first statement, Itō faces intense character assassination, slander and threats to her safety. At one point, Itō assures her family and friends that she would never take her own life, and that foul play would almost certainly be involved if she were to turn up dead. The notion that 'Black Box Diaries' is a myopic look at sexual assault in Japan and doesn't track the full history of the crime's legislation, a viewpoint that some reviews have held, is utter nonsense. Itō's documentary is about her own experience; she doesn't need to shoulder an entire country's worth of hidden and ignored pain, any more than she already does. She also says at multiple points throughout the documentary that being the sole face of a crime is exhausting, so to expect this of Itō in a 99-minute documentary is frankly asking too much.

Despite the incredibly heavy subject matter, 'Black Box Diaries' has just as many moments of positive catharsis as it does of low breaking points and is surprisingly funny. In this fashion, it's an insightful look into the non-linear healing process of sexual assault survivors. By directing and producing the documentary of her own story, Shiori Itō's 'Black Box Diaries' is revealing in ways few would allow themselves to be on camera. Her courage in the face of a deeply flawed system, where justice is a fluke rather than a given, is something to behold.