Joy Division

If you want a documentary that respects its subject, Joy Division is available in Australia on DocPlay, and in the US on Kanopy right now. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. With 56 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Anton Corbijn's involvement signals a level of cooperation that is hard to secure. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on DocPlay.

Joy Division arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. Joy Division approaches its subject with the rigour that makes documentary storytelling worth taking seriously. A chronological account of the influential late 1970s English rock band. Anton Corbijn and Kevin Cummins lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2009. Documentary work at this level requires access that is hard to get and storytelling that does justice to it — Joy Division has both. The hit rate here is high enough that skipping ahead never feels like an option.

For viewers who want their entertainment to leave them with something, Joy Division delivers on both counts. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. The subject drives every choice here, not the other way around. The kind of production you finish and immediately want to read more about.