Anton Corbijn on DeBaser: reviews, films, and stark shadows

The Profile

Anton Corbijn is a Dutch photographer, music‑video auteur and film director. He made his feature debut with Control (2007) and later directed The American (2010), A Most Wanted Man (2014), and Life (2015).

Corbijn’s cinema debut Control (2007) is a black‑and‑white biopic of Joy Division’s Ian Curtis, reflecting his photographic roots and personal connection to the band. He also directed Depeche Mode: Spirits in the Forest (2019), a documentary that foregrounds fans’ stories alongside concert footage. Reviews emphasize austere visuals, faithful period detail, and emotionally restrained storytelling.

Reviews highlight Corbijn’s debut feature Control for its stark black‑and‑white portrait of Ian Curtis and late‑’70s Manchester, and praise Spirits in the Forest for centering music’s communal power through fans’ stories. The consensus salutes precise photography, sober storytelling, and effective performances. Overall tone: admiring, with emphasis on visual austerity and emotional clarity.

Notable Quotes

❝ Anton Corbijn, renowned Dutch photographer, made his cinema debut in 2007 with "Control," a film that reflects his love for black and white photography and his deep personal connection with Joy Division.

❝ A film shot in black and white, which describes more the state of mind of a sensitive and depression-prone young man than a biography, stuck in the dead-end mood of late 1970s Greater Manchester.

❝ The film should be seen regardless, even by those who do not favor Depeche Mode.

❝ Control is shot entirely in black and white, making the film absolutely splendid; the songs have been rearranged to the letter, which is an excellent thing.