A few random ramblings…

A mini-review of the film ‘Control’

I’ve been a fan of Joy Division’s music for some time now. For me, finding out about Joy Division came at a time in my life where I was best able to relate to their music… it resonated with me in ways that nowadays I find a little disconcerting, even alarming.

This resonance and my ability to relate to Ian Curtis in some ways, is more profound now having seen ‘Control’.

Now, admittedly, i’ve not been a fan for as long as it’s been around, since I was only about 3 yrs old when they released ‘Unknown Pleasures’, their first LP, and nearly 5 when it’s follow up ‘Closer’ was released.

Sadly, before many of us could truly appreciate the majesty of Joy Division, it’s flame was snuffed out by the suicide of it’s singer and lyricist, Ian Curtis.

‘Control’ details the last 5 or so years of Curtis’ life, from when he met his future wife/widow, Deborah, through the formation of Joy Division, to his final days. It shows his life, not through the eyes of adoration as one would expect from something produced by fans (Anton Corbijn had met them just prior to Curtis’ death and became an instant admirer), but instead as something more realistic. As stated by Deborah Curtis in the film, “It doesn’t matter if he’s famous, I still wash his underwear”.

THe film focuses heavily on the relationship triangle between Curtis, his wife Deborah (whom he married at 19) and Annik Honore, the belgian woman with whom he had an affair. It shows him torn between conflicted emotions over Deborah and powerful feelings fo Annik, and the effect the stress produced by this conflict had on his worsening epilepsy and depression. As you watch, you get this unnerving feeling of innevitability about him and the circumstances surrounding him. This was a man unprepared for the situations that his own impulsiveness and creativity had fashioned, and yet, was unable to find a way out or through.

The movie is about Ian… and sadly, this relegates other important players to almost bit parts. Ironically, a scene at the films end is only poignant to fans of both Joy Division and it’s reincarnation, New Order, if you know the full history of both bands. Following the funeral, the three remaining members sit with their manager. A woman enters and sits beside the drummer, comforting him through his grief. What you see on screen is essentially New Order, though it’s never stated. This has the effect of being a nice reminder to fans that there was indeed life after death for those who Curtis had left behind.

The members of Joy Division had an agreement that if any of them left, for any reason, the rest of the band would move on and that the name and material would be left in the past. In recent years, though, for whatever reasons, New Order have incorporated a number of Joy Division songs into their live sets. Sadly, these lack something that made them so majestic originally.

As the film is currently a part of the Brisbane International Film Festival, I doubt we’ll see it at cinemas for some time… and even then, it’s appeal will be to the crowds that typically go to the Dendy or Schonell theatres. It was comforting to know that the Palace’s initial showing was a sell out, a fact I found a little surprising.

16 years after hearing those songs for the first time, I’m still moved and chilled by their power. Simple in both writing and arrangement, they live in that space that The Doors had similarly dwelt in… the hypnotic, poetic, dark places that we all know are there, but often fear to tread. There seems to be a common element with the ‘tortured artist’ type, perhaps a need to suffer for ones art. A friend once said to me that to truly appreciate the blues, you had to have experienced real pain and suffering… as that was the core of that music, and in some ways, i can appreciate the perspective, even if I don’t totally agree with it. It’s in this space, honest and uncontrived, that Joy Divisions music echoes eternal. To quote:

“Deep in the heart of
Where sympathy held sway
Gotta find my destiny
Before it gets too late”

I’ll definitely be adding this movie to my DVD collection, even if it’s one I seriously doubt i’ll watch much.

‘Control’ is haunting, beautiful, sombre, poetic… and as one would think, tragic. But in that tragedy, a beautiful legacy exists.