Control is a black and white biographical film based on the life of late Ian Curtis (1956-1980), the lead singer of the post-punk rock band Joy Division. The film details the life of the troubled young musician, who forged a new kind of music out of the punk-rock scene of 1970s Britain and the band Joy Division, which he headed from 1977 to 1980. It also deals with his rocky marriage and extramarital affair, as well as his increasingly seizures, which were thought to contribute to the circumstances that led to his suicide on the eve of Joy Division’s first tour of the United States. The title is reference to one of Joy Division’s more memorable songs, ‘She’s Lost Control’.
Unlike conventional bio-pictures, Control delivers a three-dimensional portrait of a real human being and how his troubles affected the people closest to him. Anton Corbijn, a celebrated photographer who took some of the most recognized photos of Joy Division, direct the film. Because he knew and worked with the band, the emotional connection to its subject is palpable. The major reason for the film's success, however, rests with lead actor Sam Riley who eerily recreates Curtis in appearance and voice. He performs all of the band's iconic songs such as Atmosphere, Love Will Tear Us Apart, and Twenty-Four Hours himself, using Curtis' robotic hand motions on stage to great effect. Another outstanding performance is that of Samantha Morton who plays Deborah Curtis, Ian's loving and patient wife. Though the subject matter is melancholy, Matt Greenhalgh's script based on a book written by Curtis’ wife Deborah, provides a light touch filled with trenchant one-liners from band members.
The film was premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2007 and has already won several awards in Britain. Control is an extremely moving experience. It is a film that has the power to touch and leave memories that are indelible.
