Control

Ian Curtis’ musical career was a very short-lived one, but in the four years that he practiced his craft, he left an indelible impression on the history of English rock. Though revered for his incisive lyrics and his distinctively dark baritone, it was more Curtis’ epileptic condition and premature death that spawned interest in his life and inspired this biopic.

Actor Sam Riley does a splendid job of playing Curtis ”“ besides his uncanny resemblance, it is his mastery of Curtis’ demeanour and peculiar stage performances that bring the film to life. Being a musician himself, Riley exhibits a deeper understanding of the character while lending his vocals to the film. Control successfully manages to evoke immense sympathy for the musician, as he battles his demons, grapples with his deteriorating marriage and is consumed by his debilitating condition leading to his inevitable downfall and suicide at age 24.

Anton Corbijn ”“ better known as a photographer and music video director ”“ makes his directorial debut with Control. He mostly portrays Curtis in a kind light but that’s not to say he glorifies him ”“ in places Curtis comes across as a clueless, insensitive husband and father. The visual treatment of the film is very much tempered by the photographer in Corbijn. In black and white, the film favours a quiet stillness which portrays the requisite gloom splendidly and Corbijn’s cinematography is noteworthy in bringing a surreal quotient to the frames. While the film doesn’t lose focus ”“ Corbijn mostly directs the spotlight on Curtis’s wife and his mistress ”“ it seems incomplete as it ignores the other band members and Curtis’ relationship with them which is, to a certain extent, essential to this film. Corbijn could have dug deeper to reveal the cause of Curtis’ depression and more clearly showcased his influences in his formative years with insights into his song writing instead of repeating known facts.

Corbijn has kept from over-fictionalising the story, exaggerating facts or using saleable props, keeping it at as real as he possibly could. Considering we have biopics on most musicians of any consequence, it’s surprising that Ian Curtis hasn’t been pursued as a subject on film in all this time, and for that, we are grateful to Anton Corbijn.