Joy Division (2007)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Grant Gee

Writer:

Jon Savage (writer)

Release Date:

2 May 2008 (UK)

Genre:

Documentary | Music

Plot:

A chronological account of the influential late 1970s English rock band. |

Plot Keywords:

Band | Singer | Manchester England | Bi Polar | New Wave Music

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Richard Boon	...	Himself
Anton Corbijn	...	Himself
Kevin Cummins	...	Himself
Ian Curtis	...	Himself (archive footage)
Bob Dickinson	...	Himself
Lesley Gilbert	...	Herself
Iain Gray	...	Himself
Rob Gretton	...	Himself (archive footage)
Martin Hannett	...	Himself (archive footage)
Alan Hempsall	...	Himself - Crispy Ambulance singer
Annik Honoré	...	Herself
Peter Hook	...	Himself
Richard H. Kirk	...	Himself
Terry Mason	...	Himself - Joy Division roadie
Paul Morley	...	Himself
Stephen Morris	...	Himself
Liz Naylor	...	Herself
John Peel	...	Himself (archive footage)
Genesis P-Orridge	...	Himself (as Genesis P. Orridge)
Lindsay Reade	...	Herself
Peter Saville	...	Himself
Richard Searling	...	Himself
Pete Shelley	...	Himself
Bernard Sumner	...	Himself
Malcolm Whitehead	...	Himself
Tony Wilson	...	Himself
Jon Wozencroft	...	Himself

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

Canada:93 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

Canada:14A | Australia:M | Finland:K-3 | USA:R | Ireland:15A

Company:

Hudson Productions

Honest and interesting

Grant Gee's inventive and honest documentary about Joy Division is not just a fine example of non-fiction film-making, but of film-making, full stop.

After the success of "Control", "Joy Division" has a new lease of interest behind it. It is, therefore, very good news to report that the film is not only interesting and informative, but also very effective. It is intelligent, though never ponderous. It is artistic, but never loses sight of its purpose.

The central interest of the film is not so much the eponymous band but the city of Manchester and the time and place which Joy Division found themselves in. Its focus here might tend to the ludicrous at points, but this is balanced by the human stories playing out in front of the northern backdrop.

There is very little complaint to be levelled at this film. It is not a masterpiece or extraordinary, but it is an excellent slice of cinema, knowledge and storytelling.