Control

7 yrs 117 minutes • 2007 • 7.6

The biographical feature film Control depicts the British band Joy Division's singer Ian Curtis and his short, tragic life. Despite the band's success, Curtis was plagued by depression, severe epilepsy, and guilt toward his wife, whom he repeatedly let down. Only 23 years old, he took his life. The film's director, music photographer Anton Corbijn, achieved world fame when he documented bands such as U2, R.E.M. and Nirvana, but his career started in late 1970s England where he witnessed the beginning of the exciting musical melting pot that was Manchester. He bases the film on Ian's wife Deborah's autobiography Touching from a distance together with his own experiences, all depicted with a poetic black and white photo.