Anton Corbijn
Control

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 friend and fan of the band, Corbijn stated that their music pushed him to pursue his career. It’s no surprise, then, that the film is nearly perfect in its structure, photography, and soundtrack, capturing the gray, cold, and desolate essence of Manchester in the '70s.

The story follows Ian Curtis, masterfully portrayed by Sam Riley, from adolescence until his tragic end at only 23 years old. Curtis, tormented by Joy Division’s success and the weight of his personal life — marriage, fatherhood, and epilepsy — finds himself increasingly trapped in a spiral with no escape, worsened by the band’s rapid rise and his meeting with a young fan and amateur journalist, the fascinating and exotic Annik Honoré (Alexandra Maria). Corbijn, who met the band in 1979, injects a personal touch into the film, bringing to life a realistic portrait of the frontman and the music scene of those years.

The film is based on the biography written in 1995 by Deborah, Ian's wife, with a surprisingly resentful tone despite the 15 years passed since the narrated events. It is interesting to note how many former partners of famous men tend to paint their partners in a negative light, but Corbijn manages to tone down these nuances, keeping the focus on Curtis's complexity as an artist.

Sam Riley, despite the small discrepancy of dark eyes compared to Curtis's blue eyes, delivers a flawless performance, capturing the musician's mannerisms and emotional fragility. The choice of Riley instead of Cillian Murphy, who was dismissed due to height differences, proves perfect for portraying Curtis's physical and psychological presence. For detail enthusiasts, Curtis was 1.85m tall, like Riley, while Murphy is "only" 1.70m tall.

"Control" did not have the commercial resonance of other biopics on icons like Freddie Mercury or Elton John, but it excels in its sobriety, photography, and in telling a tragic story. Corbijn creates a narrative reminiscent of a Greek tragedy: the young and talented hero, overwhelmed by guilt, trapped by forces he cannot control, and a female figure, Annick, enigmatic and fatal.