When thinking of the character of Robin Hood, one of the first images that come to mind is the Sherwood Forest: green, lush, teeming with archers. The locations of Robin Hood – The Price of Blood bear little resemblance to idyllic scenery: in the film now playing in Italian cinemas, Michael Sarnoski tells a version of the Irish hero – portrayed by a masterful Hugh Jackman – decidedly darker, more unsettling, weathered by time, and even the choice of settings follows this mood, leaving room especially for rugged coastlines, rocky cliffs, silent mountains, wind-swept valleys, and mysterious ruins of old mansions.
What it’s about
Inspired by a 17th-century ballad (“The Death of Robin Hood”), the film presents a tired, aging Robin Hood, pursued by the children, grandchildren, and relatives of the people he killed in the past and thus self-imprisoned himself in exile.
Only when he reconnects with Little John does he allow himself to embark on a new adventure to save the wife, daughter, and home of his old raiding companion. During the action he is injured and, in grave condition, is entrusted to the care of the young prioress of a convent on an island. Still, that will not be enough to prevent the past from tormenting his final days of life.
Where the film was shot
Northern Ireland
To recreate the film’s somber settings, the production (I Wonder Pictures) chose Northern Ireland: here, among wild valleys, forests of ancient trees, sheer cliffs, secluded bays, old fishing villages, and mysterious archaeological sites, lie the main locations for Robin Hood – The Price of Blood.
One of Robin Hood’s exile sites is Silent Valley: a solitary valley between the Mourne Mountains, known for the large reservoir that supplies water to a large part of the county, including the city of Belfast, which perfectly embodies the protagonist’s sense of isolation.
Most of the woodland sequences were filmed between Tollymore Forest Park and the Castlewellan Forest Park: the two nature parks embody the essence of Irish forests populated by ancient trees, crystal-clear streams, ancient ruins, and Victorian-era paths.
Another location chosen to convey the power of nature and how, in most cases, it remains indifferent to human affairs is Gleniff Horseshoe: a circular route, a little under 10 kilometers, in Sligo with a view of Donegal Bay.
Antrim
Along the coast of Antrim lie several places where the film was shot: the picturesque village of Glenarm and one of Ireland’s oldest estates, Glenarm Castle; Murlough Bay with its imposing sea cliffs; the ruins of Shane’s Castle and the tranquil waters of Lough Neagh; the pristine White Park Bay and the harbor at Ballintoy Harbour where time seems to have stood still.
In some shots, it is easy to recognize the Giant’s Causeway: a rock outcrop composed of about 40 thousand basalt columns of volcanic origin, some towering over twelve meters. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for its uniqueness the Giant’s Causeway has long inspired legendary myths of bloody clashes between titans, and for the same reason it adds a touch of mystery and suspense to the new Robin Hood film.
The convent where Sarnoski’s Robin Hood spends his final days is the Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary: one of Ireland’s most important and visited archaeological sites. The complex includes a roofless abbey, the ruins of the archbishop’s seat, the remains of an ancient Gothic cathedral, and a round tower that remains the only one still intact. Surrounded by graves with Celtic crosses, according to local custom, this site has also inspired myths and legends and contributes to lending Gothic and mysterious tones to the film.
