I've spent a good bit of time studying/admiring Joy Division. At least two movies have been made about the band. One was funny, one was very serious.

A few basic observations:

1) The Joy Division albums stand the test of time as great works of art.

2) The tragic decline of Ian Curtis is a historical fact. It seems ridiculous to think that his demise was surprising to anyone. The band members (and people close to him) claim they didn't see it coming.

3) After Ian was gone, 3/4 of the band re-formed as New Order. New Order sounds good. But the juxtaposition between old/new band is shocking. It's so telling. The struggles of Ian Curtis jump off the page.