Festival Film
Samantha Morton relished the challenge of her latest role as the long suffering wife of troubled Joy Division singer Ian Curtis, finds Miles Fielder
amantha Morton is in control. The critically lauded. hard working and in— dernand British actress plays tlte long suffering wife of troubled singer of legendary Manchester band .loy Division in the Ian (‘urtis moy'ie. (‘onrml l’resh from winning the Best liuropean liilm award at (‘annes in May. it receiyes its l'ls' premiere at the lill'T‘ this month. In the lilm. 30-year-old Morton plays l)chorah (‘urtis nee \Voodruff. a yottng Mancunian girl who met (‘urtis while they were both still at school and who married him and had a child with him when they were barely out of the education system in 1975. Morton is currently in America making (‘harlie Kaufman’s latest mind- bending moy'ie. Syner‘t/oclit’. New )in‘k. bill will be in Edinburgh for (‘onmi/‘s gala premiere and an in person masterclass. .-\s the lilm. which is based on Deborah (‘urtis' autobiographical noyel 'Ibm-hmg From a Distance. makes clear. life was difficult enough for the young. Virtually penniless parents. The growing success of Joy
Division. however. was another source of
pressure for its frontman. That. combined with Curtis' increasing anxiety over his debilitating epilepsy. put a further strain of the marriage. which led to an affair with a young Belgian fan/joumalist named Annik Honore. the ey'entual separation of husband and wife and finally Curtis' tragic suicide irt 1980 at the age of 24.
38 THE LIST FESTIVAL MAGAZINE “5—55 A...) “
('onrrol. as the films director Anton (‘orbiin has said. is 'a personal liltn. not a music film'. by which the celebrated l)utch photographer and inusic promo maker means it‘s less about .loy l)i\'ision and more l‘octtsed on (‘urtis' personal life and his relationship with his wile. It's a striking—looking film. shot in panoramic widescrecn and austere black and white. and it boasts an awesome sonic soundtrack of Joy |)iyision songs. but at heart ('onrm/ is a simple. boy—meets-girl True story that needs. and most certainly has. deeply affecting performances from its leading actors. In his first major lilm role. 27-year-old Maccleslield-born actor Sam
Riley is a reyelation as lan ('urtis. .-\s for
Morton. we‘y'e come to expect. and regularly been treated to. top-class performances from this actress with well-established credentials.
Perhaps understandably. Riley was in awe of
working with the far more experienced performer. Talking about filming. Riley said: ‘She was yery professional and Very helpful to me. and her performance in the lilm is excellent
Morton must surely haye been able to identify with the film and her role in it. She grew up in a working class family on a council estate in Nottingham. and listened to post-punk New \Vaye music — including Joy I)i\‘ision — throughout the Nb’lls. She is herself a mother. to sey'en-year—old Esme. whom Morton co-parents
with her ex-partner actor (‘harlie ('rced-Miles tthc two met while making The l.(l\l li'l/mr which also premiered at lidinburghi. .-\nd she‘s
just announced she's pregnant again and dtte to
haye a second child itt .lanuary. with the music promo director Harry llolm tsort ol’ thespian lani to whom she became engaged last year. .'\ll of tltat has. no doubt. led into Morton‘s utterly conyincing turn as the losing. beleaguered northern lass (‘urtis. and it adds yet another
jcw cl It) her crown.
:\nd so. exactly ten years since Morton lalltieti ltcr lirst leading role in a lilm. in I'm/er f/H’ Skin. which won an award at the lill'l' in NW. she‘s irt control in more way s than one. .-\fter (tint/7M. arid before .S'y'm't't/Ut'lit'. .Vt'it‘ iii/ft. .\It)t‘tt)n will be seen playing Mary. Queen of Scots in the highly anticipated sequel to [flint/wilt. 'I'lrt' (in/den glee. and then as a Marilyn Monroe look-a-like in Harmony Ktii'lllL‘K oflbeal Scotland-set comic dt'attta .l/liylt'r [Jute/y. These tlays. Nltit‘ltinK working on both sides of the .-\tlantic. balancing prestige studio lilms with smaller. independent ones. '.-\cting and rnusic.‘ Morton said. “are self indulgent professions. and they are a luxury if you loye what you do. I haye a ltwe/hate relationship with what I do. Bttt then I think you only hay e one life and I am a Vessel It)!" stories It) be [l)ILIS
Morton w asn‘t always so in control of her career. him eycr. After the critical success ()i I'm/er l/It’ Skin announced the arriy'al of a new and formidable acting talent. the British press unearthed details of her upbringing and printed slea/y stories about the divorce of her parents when she was three years old and Sam‘s subsequent years spent in foster care. The experience has made Morton cautious of the
‘I AM CONSIDERED DIFFICULT. BUT WHAT'S DIFFICULT?'