A surreal, nightmarish vision of the legend that is Ned Kelly from the outset this is anything but true. Based on Peter Carey’s Booker Prize winning novel, director Justin Kurzel takes even bolder, stylised steps than the author in its telling.
Narrated as a long letter by Kelly (George MacKay) to his unmet daughter, the anachronistic psychodrama chronologically follows Ned from childhood to death by hanging at the age of 25. Yet there’s little in terms of straightforward narrative. Early scenes show the Kelly family targeted and exploited (sexual favours from the Kelly women demanded by Sergeant O’Neill (Charlie Hunnam), Ned himself is sold off by his own mother (Essie Davis). But on reaching adulthood, there’s a significant change in True History of the Kelly Gang. A potentially straightforward and violent ‘western’ becomes something psychologically darker. Intense use of strobe; distant tracking shots of lone horse riders galloping across barren landscapes; disconcerting, waivering homoeroticism; a brazen, occasionally jarring soundtrack of punk to country – all combine to unnerve, to challenge.
It’s beautiful if difficult to watch (the strobe is extremely challenging). But it’s all a little too fragmentary, a little too messy, dream-like and based on the assumption the legend is known by all. Yet, even if this thrilling ride doesn’t ultimately quite make it, MacKay is mesmerising and individual scenes memorable.
Rating: 63%
Director: Justin Kurzel (Snowtown, MacBeth)
Writer: Shaun Grant (Nitram, Snowtown) – adapted from Peter Carey’s novel
Main cast: George MacKay (1917, Pride), Charlie Hunnam (The Gentlemen, King Arthur), Essie Davis (The Babadook, Assassin’s Creed)
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