Aqvilin lived in London when she in 2017 attended a dinner for women's rights and heard about the Japanese journalist Shiori Itō, who had then accused a powerful media man of rape.
A massive media uproar followed, accompanied by a storm of hate and threats on social media. Aqvilin got in touch with Shiori Itō and raised money for a plane ticket for a meeting in England. This marked the starting point for a documentary about the pursuit of justice, directed by Itō herself.
— It shows a very naked picture of what it's like to continue living after sexual violence, says Hanna Aqvilin to TT in Beverly Hills.
Fighting against an old law
— It's still a very Japanese story, but after the premiere in Sundance, we noticed that it appeals to the whole world. I think many people identify with her trauma, she continues.
Shiori Itō reported the rape, but the police in Japan worked according to a 110-year-old law that makes rapes almost impossible to prove. Itō then found a revealing surveillance video from the hotel where the rape allegedly took place. To use the film as evidence, Itō signed an agreement that prohibited her from using the material outside of court.
— We used the film anyway. We think it has a public interest. It's the most important thing in her entire story, how can we not include it? It has upset many that we went against the rules, and unfortunately, there has been a lot of focus on the film being unethical, says Hanna Aqvilin.
A journalist who appears in the documentary has also protested against their participation, and biographers in Japan are said to fear legal consequences if they show the film.
"Many threats again"
The controversies surrounding "Black box diaries" have stopped the premiere in Japan.
— It's as if everything has started over. There have been so many threats again after this. It's like "Black box 2". Everyone is so damn scared of this film, says Hanna Aqvilin.
At the same time, the film has been bought up all over the world and has had a major impact in France, where sexual assaults have recently been highlighted. Aqvilin also brings up how Donald Trump was sentenced to pay millions in damages for sexual assault in a civil lawsuit in 2023.
— This is happening everywhere, not just in Japan. It's a global problem, especially how people are silenced by power structures. If we're moving towards a society where media has less influence, it feels like an incredibly important film to show.
Born: 1987 in Borås.
Lives: Borås, but is about to move to Gothenburg.
Family: A four-year-old daughter.
Occupation: Producer, photographer.
Previous production projects: "Being a human person" (2020), a documentary about director Roy Andersson. The Netflix documentary "Hold your breath" (2022)
Currently with: Oscar-nominated as a producer in the category of best documentary for "Black box diaries", where she also acted as a photographer. Shiori Itō is the first Japanese director to be Oscar-nominated in the documentary category. The film has been distributed in 58 countries outside of Japan but is still not allowed to be shown in her home country.
