I didn't find Ian a despicable character, just unlikeable. He was undoubtebly a genius, but his personality was so removed/detached, and his treatment of the women who loved him so hot/cold, that I found it hard to care about him in an empathetic way. In the end, I felt his life story was a tragedy, but it didn't move me to tears like, for example, the life of Johnny Cash in Walk the Line. Perhaps in the hands of a different director, I might have felt differently?

Someone in the audience did bring up this question about the myth, how Joy Division came and went without much media attention at the time, and it was only through the years afterwards that their impact was truly felt on the small group of people who had the luck to discover their music.

In any case, the movie is really worthwhile seeing. I'd love to know your thoughts on it! :-)