AustLit

'Justin Kurzel’s True History of the Kelly Gang premiered at the Toronto Film Festival on September 6. From the beginning, “true history” became irrelevant, as a written message appeared on the screen declaring, “Nothing you are about to see is true.” The film went on to base its fantasy story on a “memoir” written by Ned Kelly to his fictitious daughter professing to be a “true account of my life”. This sham muddle of truth and fiction is pure make-believe, masquerading as a psychological insight into the criminal mind—the narcissistic mind of a predatory criminal, horse thief, robber of banks and killer of policemen. This flawed film incorporates Ned’s many lies and distortions, expanding on the excuses he used to exonerate himself.' (Introduction)

'Stanley Walsh is Australia’s least-known most successful playwright. Between 1970 and 1979 he wrote and directed seven melodramas which each ran from almost twelve months to an amazing eighteen months—yet when he died in 2008 he was probably best known for having been a producer of Neighbours.' (Introduction)