The organizers of this year's EU Film Festival have picked a cracker of a headliner this year in the Ian Curtis biopic, Control. Shot in color then converted to black-and-white, the film was directed by Anton Corbijn, best-known for his gritty, spot-colored celebrity photographs, album art and music videos -- in particular for Depeche Mode but also U2, Nirvana, etc. It's the Dutch lensman's first full-length film, a smart and, arguably, safe effort ("safe" because, even if the bits between the music were crap, which they're not, we'd still watch it til the undeniable end). 

Of course, Depeche Mode and New Order (Joy Division after Curtis' death) may not be the most attractive points of reference for the hipster generation, who "know" that music didn't really exist before the Killers or Muse or the Arctic Monkeys or Daft Punk -- and who has the patience to endure 90 minutes of retro B/W? But if you're into music for more than the superficial reasons (everyone else thinks this band is great, the lead singer is hot, etc.), kids, trust me: watch this. At the very least you'll be better prepared for your next quiz night.

Actor Sam Riley does a mean Ian Curtis, from the spot-on look and onstage twitching to the pained vocals on the soundtrack. But perhaps even more extraordinary is that the band you hear performing Joy Division songs "live" is in fact the actors playing Joy Division. Originally the plan was for the actors to fake it, with the original recordings dubbed in, but after a couple of weeks of practice they sounded as good as they looked. Or that's the story, anyway.

Here are the details from the British Council:

European Union Film Festival 2008

27 Nov–7 Dec (Bangkok), 11–21 Dec (Chiang Mai) SF World Cinema, CentralWorld, Bangkok The Vista Kadsuankaew, Chiang Mai Control (In English with Thai subtitles) Bangkok: 6 Dec at 18.30hrs Chiang Mai: 20 Dec at 18.45hrs Tickets: 02 268 8888 (BKK), 053 894 415 (CM) As part of the EUFF 08, the British Council presents Control, the biography of Joy Division lead singer Ian Curtis, from schoolboy days to his suicide at the age of 23. Married young, the fears and emotions that fuel his music slowly begin to eat away at him. With epilepsy adding to his guilt and depression, desperation takes hold. The film won British Film of the Year from London Critics Circle Film Awards 2008 and Best British Independent Film from British Independent Film Awards 2007.