Black Box Diaries (2024 Melbourne International Film Festival) ★★★★

ONE of many powerful scenes in the documentary Black Box Diaries comes near the end.

At this point, young female journalist Shiori Ito has been trying for years to bring her rapist to justice.

Because we are in Japan with its antiquated and inappropriate rape laws and because the man was influential, Shiori has been fighting an uphill battle.

At the start of the film we see CCTV footage of her and the man arriving in a cab at a hotel, the doorman greeting him and Shiori having to be dragged out and supported physically in order to even walk.

In the later scene, Shiori finally gets to speak with the doorman on the phone. He apologises for what happened to her and agrees to testify at a civil hearing.

Shiori bursts into tears and all the pent-up sadness and anger bursts forth.

There are other scenes – the hotel arrival footage is shown in complete silence and later we also see Shiori recording a video message to her parents during one of the lowest points of her ordeal.

Not only did Shiori have to deal with her rape, by speaking she also had to endure vitriolic and sustained attacks on her character and motivations over a period of years.

The documentary, also directed by Shiori, is greatly enhanced by her access to key evidence, that would otherwise have been denied her, and secret audio recordings she made of discussions with police and other government officials.

It’s a moving and shocking film made by a very brave woman.

Watched at the cinema.