THE KELLY GANG
The Grunge, Aussie Bush and Cross Dressing Influences
Justin Kurzel’s The True History of the Kelly Gang may not be for everyone, but its unusual postmodern look at Australia’s past could also be part of its appeal.
The True History of the Kelly Gang; Nicolas Hoult
Charlie Hunnam; Art direction for The True History of the Kelly Gang
Set against colonial Australia’s badlands, The True History of the Kelly Gang (loosely based on Peter Carey’s novel of the same name) tells the story of oppressive 19th-century English rule and the subsequent Irish uprising. Ned Kelly (played by George MacKay) discovers that he comes from a line of Irish rebels called the Sons of Sieve – known for having terrorized their previous oppressors back in Ireland in distinct cross-dressing garb. The rebellion here seems to manifest through their apparent ambivalence to traditional gender norms.
George MacKay; The True History Of The Kelly Gang
Art direction for The True History of the Kelly Gang; The True History of the Kelly Gang
The film opens with family patriarch John Kelly (played by Ben Corbett) wearing a red dress while riding a horse through a barren landscape, and from there, this historically accurate bending and fusing of male/female as war tactic continues to permeate the film. Later on, we see the gang and their supporters all wearing pastel-colored dresses and black ash on their faces, all while being surrounded by snow and fire. As younger brother Dan Kelly (Earl Cave) states in the film, “it scares the bejesus out of the English. Men are most afraid that they don’t understand.” This juxtaposition of feminine clothing against harsh backdrops is what gives the costumes so much prominence, and therefore, success.
The True History of the Kelly Gang
The True History of the Kelly Gang; Art direction for The True History of the Kelly Gang
Costume designer Alice Babidge, tasked with dressing the inhabitants of this Australian bushworld, deserves an Oscar for her work. Babidge prefers “clothing” over “costumes,” which in this case gives the Kelly Gang a much-needed dose of humanity and enriched characterization. For example, Steve Hart’s (Lewis Hewison) dresses always have flowers on them, which provides somewhat of a backstory to these dresses and lets us know that each character has chosen his own “armor.” Such a subtle dose of humanity demonstrated through specific wardrobe choices is no easy task, and Babidge executed it seamlessly in this film.
The True History of the Kelly Gang
The True History of the Kelly Gang
It’s rare to see such brutally strong “maleness” dressed in such feminine lace and ruffles, especially when it’s all historically accurate. The True History of the Kelly Gang lets us see just how effectively traditional female clothing can be used as bona fide armor – something women have considered elementary from the start.
