In 1980 at age 23, Ian Curtis, vocalist of seminal post-punk rock band Joy Division committed suicide after a short, troubled life. Using his widow Deborah’s book, Touching from a Distance, as the basis, renowned photographer and video director Anton Corbijn brings his life to the screen. Shot in stunning black and white that recalls Corbijn’s own photos from the time, Control is carried by an intuitive performance by Sam Riley as Curtis and a palpable recreation of Manchester of the late-1970s and early ’80s. Riley never slips into mimicry and brings a sympathetic, enigmatic Curtis stunningly alive. Never sliding into sycophancy, Corbijn’s portrait of a brilliant artist struggling with epilepsy, fame, and the demands of two women is well served by Corbijn’s years of experience in music.