Set in late 1800s Australia, True History of the Kelly Gang tells the story of Ned Kelly (Orlando Schwerdt, George MacKay), the leader of one of the most prolific gangs Australia has ever seen. As a young child, Ned is exposed to poverty, familial strife, and oppression. His character is further developed when bushranger Harry Power (Russell Crowe) enters the picture and teaches him how to despise authority. As Ned matures and descends into near-madness, people start to view him as either a hero or a murderer. This adaptation of a Peter Carey novel is directed by Justin Kurzel.