Curtis and the rope

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The Cannes Film Festival's Directors' Fortnight slate is supposed to be announced on May 3rd, but Variety's Alison James is reporting now that the sidebar's opening-night pic will be Anton Corbin's Control, a biopic about the late Ian Curtis, the Joy Division singer who hanged himself at age 23. Bono, members of New Order and Depeche Mode will attend (and may perform at) the opening- night party on Friday, 5.17, following a gala screening of the black-and-white film.

Curtis and child on May 13,. 1980 -- five days before he hung himself in his bedroom.

The Becker International production is based on "Touching From a Distance," a reminiscence by the singer's widow Deborah Curtis (played by Samantha Morton in the film). The book describes Curtis's life from his early teen years to his early death, and tells how --with a wife, child and impending international fame -- he was seduced by the glory of an early grave. What were the reasons for his fascination with death? Were his dark, brooding lyrics an artistic exorcism?

The Variety story passes along an opinion that a "love triangle" between Curtis, his widow and his mistress may have been a factor.

The Curtis suicide was dramatized in Michael Winterbottom's 24 Hour Party People, the well-received faux-doc. Control , however, is said to be a "totally different" film. Directors Fortnight honcho Olivier Pere told James that "it's a surprising love story about someone who was very ordinary and very modest...it's very close to English cinema from the 60s and 70s, with a political and social backdrop."

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on April 25, 2007 at 9:15 AM

comment #1

alan says ...

Hanged himself. Hanged.

Posted by alan at April 25, 2007 10:06 AM

comment #2

JD says ...

It's Anton Corbijn (not Corbin). If I'm not mistaking, he directed the famous video for Joy Division's "Atmoshere," which was featured in 24 Hour Party People:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0We9d5J3BLQ

Posted by JD at April 25, 2007 10:07 AM

comment #3

JD says ...

"Atmosphere" (not "Atmoshere").

Posted by JD at April 25, 2007 10:08 AM

comment #4

JD says ...

And here's a better link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4AJJcnNQK8

Posted by JD at April 25, 2007 10:11 AM

comment #5

paulyr says ...

Anton Corbijn is best know for his U2 album cover photographs.

I found this at the Agenda link of his website: "We now have the 3 main roles confirmed, which are Samantha Morton as Deborah Curtis, Sam Riley as Ian Curtis and Alexandra Maria Lara as his girlfriend. We aim to start shooting late spring..."

http://www.corbijn.co.uk/

Posted by paulyr at April 25, 2007 10:41 AM

comment #6

Rich S. says ...

Sam Riley? Did Topher Grace ask for too much $$$?

Posted by Rich S. at April 25, 2007 10:44 AM

comment #7

paulyr says ...

All right... his last posting was Febuary '06. And, yeah, it's "known"

It would help if I actually retained what I just read... in a hurry today, sorry.

Posted by paulyr at April 25, 2007 10:47 AM

comment #8

mutinyco says ...

Well... I'm hung myself...

Posted by mutinyco at April 25, 2007 10:53 AM

comment #9

Joshua Mooney says ...

Oh, I'm with you "alan." Pet peeve of mine. "Hanged" and "hung." Right up their with "its" and "it's."

Posted by Joshua Mooney at April 25, 2007 11:05 AM

comment #10

mooresthebetter says ...

FYI, tomorrow is the announcement of Critics Week. The Fortnight is set for May 3...

Posted by mooresthebetter at April 25, 2007 11:44 AM

comment #11

Chris Molanphy says ...

I know we don't discuss music-industry poop much here, but: For the record, I'm not only hoping Corbijn's movie will do its subject justice (given his pedigree, I trust and expect that it will), but if it gets a little acclaim/attention, I hope it will give the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame the ass-kick it needs to nominate Joy Division.

According to Rock Hall rules (eligibility = debut album + 25 years), they've been eligible for at least three years now. There's a whole epoch of classic British postpunk bands â€“ Joy Division, New Order, the Cure, Depeche Mode, the Smiths â€“ that they've been ignoring thus far, and Joy Division would be a good place to start.

Posted by Chris Molanphy at April 25, 2007 12:27 PM

comment #12

p.Vice says ...

Did someone say black and white? Must see!!!

Although that bit about a minute of silence? Come on!!! He's been dead for 25 years!!!

Posted by p.Vice at April 25, 2007 1:23 PM

comment #13

christian says ...

looks interesting tho i never liked joy division as its name was clearly in opposition to the suicidal music and i had too many friends who wallowed in misery with a jd soundtrack...

gimmee duran duran anyday...

Posted by christian at April 25, 2007 1:28 PM

comment #14

ioncinema.com says ...

I have great hope for this "musical biography". First off, Anton Corbijn is a master when it comes to B&W photography - 35mm film and still images so filmically I think this debut shall be impressive. I also think that the musical numbers won't be "inserted" clumsily in the tale. And then I think it may be handled with extreme care -Corbijn was a friend to Curtis and mus thave had more than one opportunity to think out the narrative and emotional strategies of the piece. Its in my top 5 must sees for Cannes for sure.

Here is a beautiful set pic of Sam Riley as Curtis:

http://www.ioncinema.com/news.php?nid=2042

Posted by ioncinema.com at April 25, 2007 5:19 PM

comment #15

High Chaparral says ...

"its name was clearly in opposition to the suicidal music"

Probably worth checking out where the name came from:

"Joy Division refers to a group of women used as sex slaves in Nazi concentration camps, as depicted in Ka-tzetnik 135633's 1955 novel The House of Dolls."

Posted by High Chaparral at April 26, 2007 2:42 AM

comment #16

frankbooth says ...

Duran Duran over Joy Division?

Droll sense of humor, Christian. If not for the general intelligence of your posting history on this blog, I might have taken that remark at face value.

Posted by frankbooth at April 26, 2007 9:57 AM

comment #17

Joshua Mooney says ...

Indeed. Thanks for pointing that out, "High Chaparral." Definitely an early employ of "irony" before even "Spy" magazine.

I actually took "christian's" remark at face value.Imagine.

I think maybe the Rock Hall of Fame issue is based on how little music Joy Division actually made. Couple years, couple albums, right? I mean, it's not like they were the Velvets.

Anyway...Samatha Morton as Deborah Curtis. It's the role she was born to play. Sigh.

["its name was clearly in opposition to the suicidal music"

Probably worth checking out where the name came from:

"Joy Division refers to a group of women used as sex slaves in Nazi concentration camps, as depicted in Ka-tzetnik 135633's 1955 novel The House of Dolls."

Posted by: High Chaparral at April 26, 2007 02:42 AM]

Posted by Joshua Mooney at April 26, 2007 11:56 AM

comment #18