“It wasn’t... an aesthetic choice; it was about not getting shot!” costume designer Alice Babidge said about the Kelly Gang’s legendary armour. Set during the late 1880s, the armour worn in True History of the Kelly Gang (2020) would’ve been made by unskilled outlaws and the costumes’ tarnished, heavy steel reflects that rough and ready aesthetic. They also reflect Babidge’s collaborative design approach and the film’s characters – actor George McKay (Ned Kelly) wrote reams of poetry in character, which Babidge carved into the armour with a key. Along with the hammered steel, these personal touches give the armour authenticity.
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ACMI Identifier
39350
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