21/02/24 – 19:30 The Venue
Japan 2024
Dir: Shiori Itô
Cert 15
103 mins
In this extraordinary and much admired documentary Japanese journalist Shiori Itô records her years of fighting for justice after her rape in a Tokyo hotel by a senior colleague, an influential man with friends in high places. Merely the mention of the word “rape” by a woman was taboo in Japanese society, and when Itô was warned that pressing charges could result in her being stigmatised for life she bravely stood her ground and brought a criminal case against her assailant. However, the Japanese legal system proved to be completely stacked against the victim and her prosecution was unsuccessful. There then followed years of extensive documenting and interviewing by Itô, resulting in a book and this film – and finally success in a civil case. Shocking, emotional and inspiring, “Black Box Diaries” is testimony to Itô’s fierce courage and determination.
Trailer:
