VIFF Review: Control

Control
September 29, 2007 2:30pm
Granville 7 Theatre 3

Out of the late 1970's punk movement in the UK came Joy Division which became famous for inspiring other bands, and out of whose ashes was born the seminal 1980's New Wave synthesizer-based band New Order. Singer Ian Curtis's suicide sealed his, and Joy Division's place in musical history. This film is Ian's story.

This period piece is filmed in black and white to emphasize the bleak economic and social conditions of mid-70's Britain. Macclesfield is an undistinguished small town outside of Manchester. Ian is a moody teenager who loves Ziggy Stardust era David Bowie, and quotes Wordsworth. His ennui is broken when he falls in love with his best mate Nick's girlfriend Debbie, and impulsively marries her.

Ian joins his friends' band Warsaw as the lead singer. His life becomes very full working days at the employment office, nights with the newly renamed Joy Division, and with a wife and daughter to support.

As the bands successes grows Ian's personal life unravels. Ian spends more time with the band and less time with his family. His marriage falls apart, and he has an affair with another woman.

Ian's physical condition also deteriorates. He develops epilepsy, but the drugs of the day only seem to worsen his mental state. Each performance seems to drain the energy out of him. He smokes, and drinks far too much.

On the eve of a US tour which very likely would have propelled them to stardom, the pressures become too much to bear and Ian ends it all at the tender age of 23.

The performances by the mostly unknown talents (on this side of the Atlantic anyway) are terrific. Sam Riley's gaunt features and pinched expression are eerily close to the real Curtis. Samantha Morton is the only big name star playing Debbie Curtis. Toby Kebbell is a scene stealer as the hilariously fast talking band manager Rob Gretton.

Along with the great musical performances, this film brings the punk era and Ian Curtis to life once more.