‘control’ film review – a.s film studies

In this essay, I shall be reviewing the film ‘ Control, a film directed by ‘ Anton Corbijn’ and based on the book ‘ Touching From A Distance’ by ‘ Deborah Curtis’. The film opens in Macclesfield, in 1973, with a teenage Curtis in love with glam rock, striking ‘ Iggy’ poses into his bedroom mirror. After analyzing the background it’s obvious this person has a distinct literary bent; his bedroom is stacked with paperbacks and files with his poetry, songs and planned novels. I’d describe him as a lover rather than a geeky loner.

Meeting his friend’s girlfriend ‘ Deborah’, he quotes ‘ Wordsworth’ to her and she is then instantly hooked. They marry, but before long, his literary and musical dreams are brought down to earth by the day job at the employment exchange, and eventually the pram in the hall. When Punk Happens, Curtis and his friends form ‘ Warsaw’, then ‘ Joy Division’. They meet manager ‘ Rob Gretton’, sign to the new label set up by the local TV presenter ‘ Tony Wilson’ and record the ‘ Unknown Pleasures’ album. But while ‘ Joy Division’ are progressing, Curtis’ own life falls apart, he’s diagnosed with epilepsy and prescribed medication. He also becomes increasingly estranged from Deborah and then has an affair with ‘ Annik’, a Belgian fanzine writer who represents all the exotic european ‘ otherness’ that he yearns for.