Director’s Fortnight at the 60th Cannes Film Festival met with a pleasant surprise as it opened with a Brtish film based on the life and death of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis.
Control, directed by debutante director Anton Corbijn, recieved a joyful reception by the critics in Cannes, and the credit goes to first-time actor Sam Riley, who plays the role of the troubled singer to a perfection.
Anton Corbijn, the Dutch director, was definitely the winner of the day as his film walked away with all the applauds. Corbijn credits newcomer Sam Riley for the success of his debut film. He said:
This is a very hard role for anybody to play, because it is very hard to fit in somebody’s shoes who has become an icon in many people’s eyes. I can’t think of the movie without Sam, to be very honest - I think he gave everything to that role. It was his first film, it was my first film - in a way we had nothing to lose.
The film revolves around the life of Ian Curtis who claimed enormous success with Joy Division until his suicide in 1980, at a young age of 23. Riley successfully portrays the trauma of the legendary singer as he battles epilepsy and confronts himself to come to terms regarding his love for his wife and a Belgian girlfriend that he meets while on tour.
All in all the film is a great success and a must watch.
