It was my favorite film of its section (Director’s Fortnight) and it probably finds itself in my top 3 viewings for the entire slate I took in at Cannes – apparently many more have liked it and many more will get to see it. After winning the CICAE Art & Essai prize for best film, the “Regards Jeunes” Prize awarded to the best first or second feature film and the Europa Cinemas Label prize for best European film in the sidebar, Anton Corbijn's Control most recently received a “special mention” for the Camera d’Or – a festival cross-section prize given to a first time director. We at IONCINEMA.com have been tracking the film from its first mention and are looking forward to further covering the film in its theatre release stage – this will be handled by the The Weinstein Company who’ve acquired the film for the North American market.
The hot title was picked up in several territories during the market, filmed in black and white, this is based on (the widow of Ian Curtis) Deborah Curtis' Touching From a Distance, this is a biopic of Joy Division lead singer Ian Curtis. Matt Greenhalgh adapted the screenplay, which covers the last years in Curtis' life, leading up to his suicide on the eve of what was to have been Joy Division’s first US tour in 1980. Plot centers on Curtis' struggle between feeling enduring love for his wife and child and his beginning a burgeoning relationship with another woman a rock journalist, as well as his bouts with epilepsy and all-consuming performances with his band.
While the Weinstein’s release schedule looks incredibly full for the Fall and Holiday season, I expect them to place this title somewhere safe.
