I am sitting here in my little apartment, listening to Joy Division through my iPod speakers, reliving the fantastic film Control, which opened the Directors’ Fortnight sidebar last night. The film, from photographer/video-maker Anton Corbijn (U2, Depeche Mode) tells the story of the Manchester singer Ian Curtis, whose legendary post-punk band Joy Division mutated into New Order after he committed suicide – with oddly gruesome synchronicity – exactly 24 years ago today (18 May). The film, shot in black and white, focuses on Curtis’ torment over his epilepsy and infidelity to his wife (Samantha Morton, very good). I spotted Jude Law at the after-party on the beach, clearly displaying no sour grapes over not getting the role of Curtis, to which he was once publicly linked.
The film-makers decided only an unknown actor would convince audiences, and Curtis is played by young northerner Sam Riley, who has won rave reviews from the critics here. The after-after-party then kicked off at 1am at the Palm Beach “VIP Room Famous Club” – it’s really called that! – where the DJ’s retro choices didn’t exactly mesh with the cool vibe of the movie. Madness’ One Step Beyond? Dire Straits’ Money For Nothing? Only in France…