Control

2007
R
2h 2m

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

70K

YOUR RATING

Theatrical Trailer from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Play trailer1:24

4 Videos

89 Photos

Docudrama Period Drama Biography Drama Music

A profile of Ian Curtis, the enigmatic singer of Joy Division whose personal, professional, and romantic troubles led him to die by suicide at the age of 23.A profile of Ian Curtis, the enigmatic singer of Joy Division whose personal, professional, and romantic troubles led him to die by suicide at the age of 23.A profile of Ian Curtis, the enigmatic singer of Joy Division whose personal, professional, and romantic troubles led him to die by suicide at the age of 23.

Director
- Anton Corbijn
Writers
- Deborah Curtis
- Matt Greenhalgh
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

70K

YOUR RATING

Director
- Anton Corbijn
Writers
- Deborah Curtis
- Matt Greenhalgh
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Won 1 BAFTA Award
- 31 wins & 35 nominations total

Trivia
The actors playing Joy Division learned how to play the songs themselves. So the scenes where the band is playing live is not from tape, but actually the actors playing live.

Goofs
Joy Division is shown performing "Transmission" on Tony Wilson's television show in September 1978, but in reality, they performed "Shadowplay". The performance that is represented in this scene actually took place a year later in September 1979 on the BBC2 program "Something Else", when they performed "Transmission" (a performance which was used as the music video for the song) and "She's Lost Control".

Quotes
Ian Curtis: Existence. Well, what does it matter? I exist on the best terms I can. The past is now part of my future. The present is well out of hand.

Crazy credits
SPOILER: Epilogue: "Ian Curtis died May 18, 1980. He was 23 years old."

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert: American Gangster/Music Within/Before the Devil Knows You're Dead/Dan in Real Life/Control (2007)

Soundtracks
Drive-In Saturday
(David Bowie)
Published by kind permission of Tintoretto Music/RZO Music Ltd/EMI Music Publishing Ltd/Chrysalis Music Ltd © 1973
Performed by David Bowie
Courtesy of RZO Music

User reviews185

Review

Featured review

7/10

the enigma of Ian Curtis

It's 1973 Macclesfield, England. Ian Curtis (Sam Riley) is a quiet enigmatic student. He marries Debbie Woodruff (Samantha Morton) in 1975. He works as an employment agent. On June 4, 1976, they attend a small Sex Pistols concert. Also in attendance are Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, and Terry Mason. Ian joins them as their lead singer. They call themselves Warsaw and eventually Joy Division.

There is a sense of disconnection from this movie and a mystery about Ian Curtis. Sam Riley's performance, the long takes, and the black and white photography all make Ian an enigma. It's a slow burn but compelling. The tone is sad and respectful. It's very fitting of the band and its music.