Colonial Australia in the 1870s is the backdrop for True History of the Kelly Gang, Justin Kurzel's 2020 retelling of the Ned Kelly legend. Adapted from Peter Carey's novel, the film mixes biography, crime drama and western as it traces how a boy of Irish descent grew into the most hunted bushranger in the colony.
What is True History of the Kelly Gang about?
The story opens on a harsh frontier where English authorities hold power and Irish families live under constant pressure. Ned Kelly grows up in that world and falls under the wing of Harry Power, a notorious bushranger played by Russell Crowe, who gives him an early education in life outside the law. As Ned gets older he learns about the Sons of Sieve, Irish rebels remembered for riding against their oppressors in women's dresses, and he comes to see himself as their heir. Then his mother is arrested in circumstances he considers unjust, and anger hardens into purpose. Ned gathers a small, wild band of followers, and together they prepare an act of rebellion bold enough to shake the whole colony, with the law never far behind them.
About the cast
Russell Crowe appears as Harry Power, the veteran outlaw who shapes Ned's early years. Around him the credited ensemble includes Nicholas Hoult, George MacKay, Charlie Hunnam, Essie Davis, Earl Cave, Sean Keenan and Thomasin McKenzie, a large company that carries the story from Ned's boyhood to his time as a wanted man. Justin Kurzel directs.
Context & significance
Ned Kelly is one of the best-known names in Australian history, and his story has been told many times. This version takes its title and its shape from Peter Carey's novel, so it works as a dramatised account of the Kelly gang's years on the run and not as a documentary record. The catalogue lists it under four genres at once: biography, crime, drama and western. The film is an Australian production running 124 minutes. On K-Time it carries Persian subtitles; there is no Persian dub for this title.
Watching True History of the Kelly Gang on Ktime
True History of the Kelly Gang streams on K-Time with Persian subtitles. Reading this page is open to everyone, while playing the film requires logging in to a K-Time account. The service is built for Persian-speaking viewers living abroad, with a Farsi interface on television, phone and web.