This is the opening of Justin Kurzel’s True History of the Kelly Gang (2019), a film inspired by Peter Carey's Booker-winning novel. The film unashamedly blurs the line between fact and fable, with an opening title that boldly declares ‘Nothing you’re about to see is true’. Contradictions abound. Kelly (George MacKay) narrates a letter to his daughter, who is an invention of Carey’s, while declaring he will tell no lies as he shares his history.

Overhead shots of a galloping horse through a stark, otherworldly landscape of dead trees create a sense of foreboding, enhanced by human cries on the soundtrack. It’s an arresting opening that prepares us for an alternative postmodern vision of the Ned Kelly story, complemented by Kurzel’s rock'n'roll-influenced aesthetic.

Explore more Ned Kelly in Australian cinema