Joy Division

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Joy Division

R

2006

1h 34m

Documentary

Music

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Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

5 Reviews

92%

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1,000+ Ratings

This documentary looks at the British band Joy Division, who rose to prominence in the 1980s and have had an enormous cultural influence in the years since their demise. Using archival footage and interviews with those familiar with the band, and in the context of their rise in Manchester, filmmaker Grant Gee charts their career chronologically. Among those interviewed is Anton Corbijn, who made a biopic about Joy Division's lead singer, Ian Curtis, and photographed them during their heyday.

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Anna Smith

Empire Magazine

A revealing portrait of a ground-breaking band.

Rated: 4/5

May 2, 2008

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Tim Robey

Daily Telegraph (UK)

There will surely come a point when the mythology around Salford's most famous rock group will run dry, but it hasn't yet: this superbly made documentary by Grant Gee deserves to sit on DVD shelves everywhere as a companion piece to Control.

May 2, 2008

Full Review

Erick Estrada

Cinegarage

Endearing and welcoming reflections from a different point of view... Lucid entertainment. [Full review in Spanish]

Jul 20, 2022

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Energetic tell-all pic about the beginnings in 1976 of the legendary post-punk rock band from the grimy factory city of Manchester.

Rated: A-

Feb 21, 2013

Full Review

Urban Cinefile Critics

Urban Cinefile

This doco, following the release of Control, the dramatised biopic of Joy Division lead singer Ian Curtis, is a thorough and engaging work that unravels the story of Joy Division in chronological order.

Jan 24, 2008

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Jim P

I loved this band back in the 80s, and I still love them. This is more of a documentary than the movie Control. Such a tragic story,,,

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/13/24

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Audience Member

In late 78, Richard Boon, then manager of Buzzcocks took me to a horrible pub in a horrible estate in Manchester to see a band he said was special. It was Joy Division. I talked to Ian Curtis a number fo times at shows and this documentary captures a raw guilt that everybody involved felt after Ian hanged himself. Years later people still feel it, they feel they should or could have done something and didn't. This film captures the feeling absolutely and is a riveting watch, or perhaps it's just me. Watch it alongside Control and it adds a 3-D feeling to teh ghosts.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

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Audience Member

An insightful and revealing documentary that charts the rise of the band and the heartbreaking story of Ian Curtis, enhanced greatly by honest accounts from his fellow band members.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

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Audience Member

Utterly Fantastic - tells the Joy Division story directly from those at the centre of it with the background of 70s Manchester fused with modern day Manchester - must watch for any Joy Division fan or Mancunian

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

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Audience Member

Aunque al principio parece un documental muy acadÃ (C)mico, las reflexiones finales sobre la evoluciÃ³n de la ciudad, Manchester, y el impulso que Joy Division, Factory, The HaÃ§ienda y la escena musical le dieron a una ciudad en decadencia son quizÃ¡ de las mÃ¡s bellas que se han hecho nunca.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

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Audience Member

Beautiful tribute to a groundbreaking group with a tragic ending but a lasting legacy.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

Full Review

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Grant Gee

Director

Anton Corbijn

Actor

Ian Curtis

Actor

Jon Savage

Writer

Tom Astor

Producer

Tom Atencio

Producer

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Synopsis

This documentary looks at the British band Joy Division, who rose to prominence in the 1980s and have had an enormous cultural influence in the years since their demise. Using archival footage and interviews with those familiar with the band, and in the context of their rise in Manchester, filmmaker Grant Gee charts their career chronologically. Among those interviewed is Anton Corbijn, who made a biopic about Joy Division's lead singer, Ian Curtis, and photographed them during their heyday.

Director: Grant Gee
Producer: Tom Astor, Tom Atencio
Screenwriter: Jon Savage
Production Co: Dreamtool Entertainment
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Documentary, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Runtime: 1h 34m

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