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Black Box Diaries

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Black Box Diaries
Theatrical release poster
Directed byShiori Itō
Produced by
CinematographyYuta Okamura
Edited byEma Ryan Yamazaki
Music byMark Degli Antoni
Production
companies
  • Cineric Creative
  • Hanashi Films
  • Star Sands
  • Spark Features
Distributed by
Release dates
  • January 20, 2024 (2024-01-20) (Sundance)
  • October 25, 2024 (2024-10-25) (United States)
  • October 25, 2024 (2024-10-25) (United Kingdom)
Running time
103 minutes
Countries
  • Japan
  • United States
  • United Kingdom
Languages
  • English
  • Japanese
Box office$27,788[1][2]

Black Box Diaries is a 2024 documentary film produced and directed by Shiori Itō, documenting her sexual assault investigation and case in Japan.[3] The film premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.[3][4][5] It was released in the United States and United Kingdom on October 25, 2024, by MTV Documentary Films and Dogwoof, respectively. It received critical acclaim and was named one of the top 5 documentary films of 2024 by the National Board of Review[6] and nominated for best Documentary Feature Film in the 97th Academy Awards.

Synopsis

[edit]

The film is a documentary based on investigative journalism analysing a high-profile rape case in Japan, written by the victim, Shiori Itō. The perpetrator was Noriyuki Yamaguchi, then Washington D.C. bureau chief of the Tokyo Broadcasting System. He's established to be a powerful man with friends in high places, notably prime minister Shinzo Abe.[7]

Production

[edit]

The film is based on the 2017 memoir written by Itō.[7]

It is directed by Itō and co-produced by her along with Hanna Aqvilin and Eric Nyari.

Release

[edit]

The film had its world premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival on January 20 as part of the World Cinema Documentary Competition.[8] It also screened at South by Southwest on March 10, 2024,[9][10] CPH:DOX on March 18, 2024,[11][12] Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival on April 29, 2024,[13][14]

In May 2024, MTV Documentary Films and Dogwoof acquired US and UK distribution rights to the film, respectively.[15][16]

Black Box Diaries screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival in Melbourne, Australia, August 2024[17] and at the 2024 Adelaide Film Festival in October. [18]

The film competed in the category Documentary Competition at the 20th Zurich Film Festival in October 2024, where it won the Golden Eye for best Documentary and the Audience Award across all competing entries.[19]

Controversy

[edit]

In October 2024, Yōko Nishihiro, an attorney who formerly represented Itō, accused Itō of failing to protect sources by using footage and recordings in the film without permission from the relevant parties, such as the hotel that provided security camera footage of Itō being dragged, which it did so under the agreement that it be used only in court proceedings, a police detective who leaked investigative information, and a taxi driver who provided an account. She expressed fear that such unauthorized uses of materials produced during a lawsuit may discourage potential witnesses and cooperators from coming forward in lawsuits concerning sexual assaults, where evidence tends to be scarce. She also said that a phone conversation between Itō and Nishihiro was recorded without her knowledge and was used in the film without her permission.[20][21][22][23]

In response, Itō said Nishihiro's accusations contained factual inaccuracies, the detective and the taxi driver could not be reached, and the film had received legal checks in the United States and Japan.[22] She contended that it was crucial to show the evidence of the sexual assault, that the security footage and the detective's voice were sufficiently altered for the film to protect privacy, and that the public benefit of including the materials in the film outweighed other concerns such as the commercial interests of the hotel.[21][24][25][23] She also said the footage was an unrestricted court material and it had to be published as she had received vitriol after footage of her walking out of the hotel was leaked.[26] Representatives of Itō also accused Nishihiro of breaching attorney–client confidentiality.[21]

Documentarian Tatsuya Mori said, "If what the lawyers said in the press conference is true, it's clearly over the line. It should be rectified even at this point."[22] Hiroyoshi Sunakawa, media scholar at Rikkyo University, said, "There are some things, such as the degree of intoxication, that can only be conveyed through video. The film is made with determination, and, if the message contained there serves the public interest like prevention of sexual crime, it is defensible to decide to show the footage even without permission."[24] Toshihiko Tabuchi, media scholar at J. F. Oberlin University, said, "In American documentary filmmaking, there is propensity to put more emphasis on public interest even when matters such as invasion of privacy are contentious ... I assume it was the only way to expose the sexual crime while maintaining the credibility of the video evidence."[23] Ryōichi Matsuno, journalism scholar at Chuo University said, "Obtaining permission for footage use and protecting the anonymity of sources are the most basic of basics. Given the subject with such high public interest, permission should be negotiated for tenaciously, and the personality and human rights of the journalistic sources should be given the utmost consideration. Journalism is predicated on relationships of trust."[23]

In January 2025, the Tokyo Shimbun reported that footage of female journalists discussing their experiences of sexual harm at a private meeting that took place in December 2017 was used in the film, including the version streaming on Paramount+, without permission from several of the participants filmed, even though one of them had been told by Itō in late 2024 that her request that the scene be removed had been accepted. The organizer of the event told the newspaper that they authorized Itō to use the footage under the condition that she obtain permission from everyone filmed, but they did not confirm that she indeed did, and they would deliberate whether they too would request the scene be removed. Representatives of Itō wrote to the newspaper, "We believe that there exists no obligation to respond to those who keep making malicious personal attacks, and we suggest you operate under that assumption going forward."[27]

As of January 2025, no Japanese release of the film was scheduled.[26]

Critical reception

[edit]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 98% of 56 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.3/10.[28] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 82 out of 100, based on 18 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[29]

Accolades

[edit]
Award Date Category Recipient Result Ref.
Sundance Film Festival 28 January 2024 World Cinema Documentary Grand Jury Prize Black Box Diaries Nominated [30]
CPH:DOX 24 March 2024 Human:Rights Award Won [7]
Hong Kong International Film Festival 8 April 2024 Golden Firebird Award – Documentary Competition Nominated [31]
San Francisco International Film Festival 28 April 2024 Best Documentary Feature Nominated [32]
Special Jury Award Won
Seattle International Film Festival 27 May 2024 Best Documentary Runner-up [33]
Lena Sharpe Award for Persistance of Vision Won
Best Director Shiori Ito 3rd Runner-up
Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival 22 September 2024 Inspiring Voices and Perspectives Award Black Box Diaries Won [34]
Zurich Film Festival 13 October 2024 Best International Documentary Film Won [35]
Critics' Choice Documentary Awards 10 November 2024 Best True Crime Documentary Nominated [36]
National Board of Review 4 December 2024 Top 5 Documentaries Won[a] [37]
International Documentary Association Awards 5 December 2024 Best Feature Documentary Eric Nyari, Hanna Aqvilin, Shiori Ito Nominated [38]
Best Director Shiori Itō Nominated
Emerging Filmmaker Award Won
Best Editing Ema Ryan Yamazaki Nominated
Astra Film Awards 8 December 2024 Best Documentary Feature Black Box Diaries Nominated [39]
Alliance of Women Film Journalists 7 January 2025 Best Documentary Film Black Box Diaries Nominated [40]
Cinema Eye Honors 9 January 2025 Outstanding Non-Fiction Feature Shiori Itō, Eric Nyari, Hanna Aqvilin, Ema Ryan Yamazaki, Yuta Okamura, Yuichiro Otsuka, Mark Degli Antoni and Andrew Tracy Nominated [41]
Outstanding Debut Shiori Itō Nominated
The Unforgettables Won
Academy Awards 2 March 2025 Best Documentary Feature Film Shiori Ito, Eric Nyari, and Hanna Aqvilin Pending [42]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ This award does not have a single winner, but recognizes multiple films.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Black Box Diaries". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  2. ^ "Black Box Diaries". The Numbers. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Lodge, Guy (January 26, 2024). "'Black Box Diaries' Review: Shiori Ito's Courageously Candid Documentary Account of Her Own #MeToo Battle". Variety. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  4. ^ Stern, Marlow (January 25, 2024). "How Shiori Itō Took on Her Powerful Rapist and Changed Japan Forever". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  5. ^ Briscuso, Lex (January 21, 2024). "'Black Box Diaries' Review: Shiori Ito's Look at Her Own Sexual Assault Is Marvelous and Impactful". TheWrap. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  6. ^ "2024 Archives". National Board of Review. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c "Black Box Diaries". MIFF 2024. 2024. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  8. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony; Patten, Dominic (December 6, 2023). "Sundance Unveils Packed 2024 Lineup That Includes A.I., Pedro Pascal, Kristen Stewart, Satan, Devo & Steven Yeun". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  9. ^ "Black Box Diaries". South by Southwest. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  10. ^ "2024 Film & TV Lineup". South by Southwest. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  11. ^ "Black Box Diaries". CPH:DOX. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  12. ^ Barraclough, Leo (February 15, 2024). "Documentary Film Festival CPH:DOX Unveils Competition Lineup". Variety. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  13. ^ "Black Box Diaries". Hot Docs Canadian International Film Festival. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  14. ^ Barraclough, Leo (March 12, 2024). "'Full Frontal's' Amy Hoggart, Magician Shawn Farquhar Feature in Films World Premiering in Hot Docs' Special Presentations Section". Variety. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  15. ^ Morfoot, Addie (May 9, 2024). "MTV Documentary Films Acquires U.S. Rights to Sundance #MeToo Doc 'Black Box Diaries' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  16. ^ Tabbara, Mona (May 16, 2024). "Sundance documentary 'Black Box Diaries' locks in major sales (exclusive)". Screen International. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
  17. ^ Cai, Jenny; Katayama, Seena (September 3, 2024). "Black Box Diaries documents Shiori Ito's pursuit of justice and sexual violence law reform in Japan". ABC News. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  18. ^ https://citymag.indaily.com.au/culture/aff-review-black-box-diaries/
  19. ^ "An overview of all current and previous prize winners". zff.com. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  20. ^ 伊藤詩織さん初監督作品、元代理人が変更求める「ズタズタにされた気分です」 制作会社は「素材の権利処理は一任」と説明 [Former representative demands changes to Shiori Itō's directorial debut: 'I feel torn to shreds'; production company explains 'material clearance was entrusted with her']. Bengo4.com (in Japanese). October 25, 2024. Retrieved January 11, 2025.
  21. ^ a b c Tsukada, Kenshin (December 19, 2024). 伊藤詩織さん監督映画めぐる双方の主張は？ 元代理人は「承諾ない部分は修正を」、監督側は「指摘は不正確」と反論 [What are the arguments on both sides over film directed by Shiori Itō? Former representative says 'Redact unauthorized parts', director's side rebuts 'Assertions are inaccurate']. Bengo4.com (in Japanese). Retrieved January 11, 2025.
  22. ^ a b c Mochizuki, Isoko; Ogawa, Shin'ichi (October 21, 2024). 伊藤詩織さん監督映画に「人権上の問題」 元代理人の弁護士ら、修正求め会見 「取材源の秘匿守られず」 ['Human rights problems' in Shiori Itō–directed film, lawyers including her former representative demand redaction in press conference: 'Source anonymity was not protected']. Tokyo Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  23. ^ a b c d Kitano, Ryūichi; Gotō, Ryōta (January 21, 2025). 伊藤詩織さんの性被害を描いた監督映画 「許諾ない映像使用」と指摘 [Film directed by Shiori Itō depicting sexual assault: 'unauthorized use of footage' pointed out]. The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  24. ^ a b Andō, Kyōko (December 22, 2024). 伊藤詩織さん、性被害の「事実を明るみに出すため必要だった」と反論 証拠映した「映像の無断使用」指摘に [Shiori Itō counters accusation of 'unauthorized use of footage' showing proof: 'It was necessary to bring facts' about sexual assault 'into light']. Tokyo Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved January 12, 2025.
  25. ^ Kunizaki, Machi (December 22, 2024). 伊藤詩織さん監督映画、米アカデミー賞のショートリスト選出「被害者らしさを押し付ける社会を変えたい」。誓約違反への見解は [Film directed by Shiori Itō shortlisted for US Academy Awards: 'I want to change the society that imposes victimhood'. Find out her view on the agreement breach]. HuffPost (in Japanese). Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  26. ^ a b 伊藤詩織さん初監督映画、上映めど立たぬ異例の事態 防犯カメラ映像などめぐり [No release planned for Shiori Itō's directorial debut: unprecedented situation surrounding security camera footage]. Ryūkyū Shimpō (in Japanese). Kyodo News. January 27, 2025. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  27. ^ Mochizuki, Isoko (January 14, 2025). 伊藤詩織さん監督の映画、「性被害」語る女性の映像を許諾なく使用 非公開集会、発言者が削除求めたのに… [Shiori Itō–directed film uses footage of women discussing 'sexual harm' without permission, despite a speaker at the private meeting demanding removal]. Tokyo Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  28. ^ "Black Box Diaries". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved December 5, 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  29. ^ "Black Box Diaries". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  30. ^ The Complete List of 2024 Sundance Film Festival Award Winners|Sundance Film Festival
  31. ^ Rosser, Michael (March 8, 2024). "Berlin award-winner 'All Shall Be Well' to open 2024 Hong Kong film festival". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  32. ^ Anderson, Erik (May 1, 2024). "'Sugarcane,' 'The Teacher' Earn Awards at 67th San Francisco International Film Festival as SFFILM Enters a State of Change". Awards Watch. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  33. ^ Carson, Lexi (May 19, 2024). "Seattle International Film Festival Awards Top Honors to 'Sing Sing,' 'Gloria!'". Variety. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  34. ^ "‘The Count of Monte-Cristo’ big winner at Cinéfest Sudbury". Sudbury.com, September 27, 2024.
  35. ^ Del Don, Giorgia (October 15, 2024). "On Becoming a Guinea Fowl y Black Box Diaries son las grandes triunfadoras del Festival de Zúrich". Cineuropa (in Spanish). Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  36. ^ Lewis, Hilary (October 14, 2024). "'Sugarcane' Leads Critics Choice Documentary Awards Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  37. ^ Lattanzio, Ryan (December 4, 2024). "'Wicked' and Jon M. Chu Win Big with the National Board of Review — See the Full List". IndieWire. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  38. ^ Bergeson, Samantha (November 19, 2024). "IDA Documentary Awards Announces 2024 Nominees: 'Sugarcane,' 'No Other Land,' and More". IndieWire. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  39. ^ Pond, Steve (November 25, 2024). "'Wicked' Leads Nominations for Astra Film Awards". TheWrap. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  40. ^ "The 2024 EDA Award Nominees". Alliance of Women Film Journalists. December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
  41. ^ Hipes, Patrick (October 24, 2024). "Cinema Eye Honors: 'Girls State', 'Ren Faire' Lead Broadcast Nominees; Audience Choice Award Longlist Revealed". Deadline. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  42. ^ "97th Oscar Nominees Announced". Oscars.org. January 23, 2025. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
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