The story behind Ian Curtis’ inevitable suicide

Posted August 30th, 2007 by eric

The Guardian delves into the reality beneath Anton Corbijn’s Control, speaking with all three surviving members of Joy Division, as they react to the film with both heartbreak and regret.

Bassist Peter Hook:

“But Anton’s film is more chilling. Towards the end, it felt like someone had ripped out my heart and was stamping on it. To be honest, when [the Joy Division song] “Atmosphere” came on, I thought I was going to throw up.”

Guitarist Bernard Sumner:

“Sometimes a drumbeat would set him off. He’d go off in a trance for a bit, then he’d lose it and have a fit. We’d have to stop the show and carry him off to the dressing-room where he’d cry his eyes out because this appalling thing had just happened to him. The heavy barbiturates he was on seemed to compound the situation; they made him very, very sad. I just don’t think there was a solution to Ian’s problems.”

The director heaps praise on Sam Riley, the unknown actor who plays Ian Curtis: “Sam comes as close as it’s possible to get, I think. It’s really uncanny.”

The film opens October 5 in the US.

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2 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Logan Young // Aug 30, 2007 at 11:44 pm

    Apparently, Corbijn has Hook smoking in the film – which I don’t think he did. And unless I’m mistaken, didn’t Sam Riley have a bit part in “24 Hour Party People?”

  • 2 Eric Greenwood // Aug 31, 2007 at 12:56 pm

    not sure. but i know he had a garage band called 10,000 Things.