As a seasoned gamer who has navigated countless virtual worlds, I find myself deeply moved by Shiori Ito’s real-life journey as depicted in her powerful documentary, “Black Box Diaries”. It’s an emotional rollercoaster that takes us through the harrowing experience of a survivor seeking justice in a society that often fails them.
In Shiori Ito’s intense documentary, Black Box Diaries, there’s a moment where the director, who is also the film’s focus, discusses her attempts to bring charges against her rapist in front of a crowd of journalists. Similar to many survivors of sexual violence who are compelled into this repeated courtroom drama, she embodies the courage that society now associates with resilient women. Her expression remains unreadable and she dresses modestly, donning symbols of victimhood: subtle pearl earrings, a sober black blouse, and minimal makeup, hinting at just a touch of blush and a single line of eyeliner.
Ito’s voice maintains its composure as she retells how the police initially dismissed her report and offered various reasons: They claimed that investigating sex crimes was challenging, they stated; Noriyuki Yamaguchi, a prominent figure who served as the former Washington Bureau chief of the Tokyo Broadcasting System and had ties with the late Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, was deemed too influential to scrutinize.
Approximately two months had passed when officials stopped investigating Ito’s case. In response, a journalist who was also a young woman chose to disclose the situation publicly. She conducted a press conference about it in May 2017 and released her memoir just five months afterwards.
Ito’s actions initiated a wave of #MeToo movement within Japan, which is uncommon as fewer than 10% of rape victims come forward. This event has compelled the nation to confront and reevaluate their perspectives on sexual assault, the offenders, and the victims.
Black Box Diaries, released on October 25 in the U.S., shares Ito’s struggle to seek justice. By blending personal iPhone videos, news broadcasts, hotel surveillance footage from the night of Ito’s assault, and assorted audio recordings, this film becomes a raw and powerful account of resilience and pursuit of rightful action.
Ito’s first film resonates with pieces that showcase the strength in survivor stories, as it combines a sense of destruction and familiarity.
A noteworthy example is the movie titled “She Said“, directed by Maria Schrader, which is a traditional portrayal based on the investigative work conducted by New York Times journalists Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor regarding Harvey Weinstein. Schrader creatively utilized real audio of Ambra Battilana Gutierrez’s interaction with Weinstein to alter the film’s standpoint and awaken viewers from the tranquil bubble of fictional storytelling.
Another example is Chanel Miller’s 2019 memoir titled “Know My Name,” where Miller, who was victimized by Stanford University athlete Brock Turner in 2015 and was previously known as Emily Doe, reclaims her personal identity through self-expression. Similar to Ito, Miller’s story gains a powerful momentum from sharing her experiences openly.
A contemporary production titled “The Ford/Hill Project“, directed by Lee Sunday Evans and starring Elizabeth Marvel, took place at New York’s Public Theater. This play, which has concluded its run, combines the testimonies of Anita Hill and Christine Blasey Ford, who appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Anita Hill testified in 1991 against Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas, who was accused of sexual harassment by her, while Christine Blasey Ford testified in 2018 after accusing another Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, of sexually assaulting her in high school.
The material power of the accused — conferred by a society more likely to side with perpetrators than survivors of assault — connects these works, which span different countries and years. Together, these women’s stories form an imposing chorus of damning disclosures, speaking to the difficulty survivors face when trying to tell the truth.
Many individuals close to Ito strongly advised her against making her situation public. Interactions with family members and one of the abandoned case investigators, as detailed in Black Box Diaries, showcase the pervasive fear that fosters a culture of secrecy within Japan. These individuals are apprehensive about potential job losses, damage to their reputations, and the possibility of violence that could arise if Ito were to expose herself to unrelenting public scrutiny.
Despite this, the journalist, driven by the principles that led her into her career, feels an inherent need to investigate further. Much like tackling a news story, she applies the same diligence to her case. This method ensures the documentary is accessible for those unaccustomed to contemporary Japanese society, while also imbuing Black Box Diaries with the captivating pace of a police procedural, somewhat ironically.
Ito is often captured on screen jotting down extensive notes during phone calls, surrounded by stacks of highlighted transcripts and folders filled with evidence. As a director, she draws upon discussions with her colleagues, legal advisors, and confidants to provide insight into the reasons behind dropped criminal cases, pursued civil lawsuits, and the intricate social politics that have influenced every stage of her voyage.
Stories shared from secret encounters with an unnamed inquirer emphasize Yamaguchi’s influence. In one such compelling instance, the investigator confided to Ito that, despite possessing a warrant for the arrest of the prominent journalist, Police Chief Itaru Nakamura – who is friends with Yamaguchi – chose not to act on it.
In the story of Ito, there are striking similarities to survivor narratives that have emerged more frequently since the peak of the #MeToo movement. The indifference of investigators, manipulative police tactics that question the reliability of survivors by focusing on minor details, and the cruelty of a public biased against women are all evident in “Black Box Diaries“.
As a gamer, I find Ito’s movie stands out due to its personal, iPhone-filmed segments that act as a platform for the director to confront himself. In these raw and emotional confessions, the journalist fades away, revealing more of the individual behind the camera.
These expressions expose the persistent loneliness experienced by survivors and provide room for the personal struggles that surface when they no longer need to conceal their suffering behind well-coordinated attire and controlled tones. They redefine the concept of testimony, transforming it from a public declaration into an immediate and healing private act.
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2024-10-26 21:25