Ito Shiori’s Black Box Diaries, a documentary she directed about her pursuit for justice in her sexual assault case, is now officially up for a US Academy Award. She’s the first Japanese director to earn a nomination in the category.
According to Nikkan Sports, Ito is the first Japanese director nominated in the category.
Ito’s film, which made the Oscars documentary shortlist last month, tells about her struggle to get answers and action after her rape by journalist Yamaguchi Noriyuki. She contends that the well-connected Yamaguchi used his political connections to kill the criminal case. She eventually won a civil judgment against him.
Despite critical acclaim worldwide, Ito’s film has yet to air in Japan, according to Huffington Post JP. Ito’s former lawyer has also criticized her for using security camera footage and recorded conversations with cops without permission. Lawyer Nishihiro Yoko says such actions could make it harder to get companies like hotels to cooperate with victims in the future.
Black Box Diaries will compete against four other documentaries for the statue:
"Noah [at Unseen Japan] put together an itinerary that didn’t lock us in and we could travel at our own pace. In Tokyo, he guided us personally on a walking tour. Overall, he made our Japan trip an experience not to forget." - Kate and Simon S., Australia
- No Other Land, a film by Palestinian activist Basel Adra showing the destruction of his community in Palestine by the Israeli occupation over two years
- Porcelain War, which follows three Ukrainian artists as they try and survive – and even thrive – amidst Russian’s war on their country
- Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat, which tells the story of two musicians who crashed the UN Security Council to protest the murder of Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba
- Sugarcane, about the discovery of a mass grave for children at an Indian residential school in Canada
No matter which film wins, all five sound worthy of audiences’s time and attention. Here’s hoping the awards bring a much-needed spotlight to at least one of these important movies.
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