Robin in the Hood

My name is Kristin Vollset, and I´m a filmmaker and musician from Norway, with a unique style and a strong commitment to social justice. Through my work I have created a new form of storytelling, interweaving documentary, fiction and music in unexpected ways, and combining both social and magical realism. I have previously directed the two award-winning short films, "No Plan" (2016) and "They can´t stop you" (2020) - both centred around the urban horse culture in Dublin, Ireland.

For the last few years I´ve been working on my latest short film, the 30-minute musical, "Robin in the Hood". It tells the story of a horse owner and dealer from inner-city Dublin, and how his encounter with a travelling street musician changes both their lives. The film is a modern retelling of the old ballad of Robin Hood, and it aims to humanise people who choose crime as a way to improve their standard of living - and to see their actions in the context of economic inequality.

The film also pushes boundaries creatively, and a unique feature of the film is how the entire narrative is sung by a travelling street musician, while she simultaneously acts as one of the protagonists in the story.

"Robin in the Hood" is inspired by real events related to the urban horse community in The Liberties, in Dublin. This unique horse culture dates back to the opening of the Guinness factory in 1759, and for over 200 years horses were used in the transportation of Dublin´s trademark brew. This spurred a deep bond between workers and horses in the area, a bond that lives on to this day. It is not uncommon to see boys riding horses around the streets of the Liberties, while older men drive tourists to and from the city centre in their horse-drawn carriages. Also, the many horse yards in the Liberties serve as an important arena for socialising, for both kids and adults.

Unfortunately The Liberties also faces challenges, and “Robin in the Hood” sheds a light on sensitive issues such as crime and violence, while at the same time demonstrating the complexity of these issues and how they can be linked to economic inequality. “Robin in the Hood” is at the same time a depiction of a working class community facing significant adversity, a homage to a historic urban horse culture, and also a modern fairy tale, building on elements from the oldest ballads about Robin Hood.

Another important aspect is how the film engages people from an inner-city community. The film shines a light on their culture, on their heritage, and on their challenges, and that´s a profound thing - not just from an artistic point of view, but also socially. The people of the Liberties in Dublin are delighted that a film has been made about their neighborhood, and that they have gotten the chance to be involved both in front and behind the camera. With the exception of two actors, all characters and extras are played by real members of this inner-city horse tribe.

To me filmmaking is a calling, and I hope to reflect real life back to people with all its beauty, hardship and magic. I truly hope my films can inspire people to recognise their own power and to see the value of life even when it is hard to bear.