In Campénéac (Morbihan), Claire Vilani is having a house built in her garden, 10 meters from hers. A simple construction site for the moment, the house will bring back some memories for fans of pre-Netflix television series. Who would have imagined that one day we could erect a replica of the wooden hut here? The Little House On The Prairie ? 6,700 kilometers from the hamlet of Plum Creek, in Walnut Grove – a Minnesota town entirely rebuilt in the studio for the purposes of filming, which spanned from 1974 to 1983 –, the famous soap opera recounting the daily life of American pioneers at the end from the 19th centurye century is about to come back to life in the Brocéliande forest. Pine and OSB walls, sloping roof imitation shingles, bundles of wood hanging on the walls… All that will be missing is the Ingalls family to brighten up this nostalgic little house.
Mother of three children, also twice a grandmother, Claire Vilani, 48, is an absolute fan of The little house, a series full of good feelings and regularly rebroadcast, as currently on the 6ter channel. She was 5 years old when Michael Landon, alias Charles Ingalls, the father of the family in the peasant hat, appeared to her for the first time on television. The actor entered his life that day, never to leave again. It’s from his waist – “1.75 meters, without the heels he had to wear while playing” – that Claire Vilani was able to assess the dimensions of the famous cabin, with an area of 42 square meters according to her. A local architect drew up plans. The town’s carpenter began work in June. Financed by a bank loan, these will end in four months.
Not a “mini-Disneyland”
His knowledge of the 205 episodes of the saga by heart does not explain everything. It is to resurrect the “lost values” magnified on screen – family love, paternal authority, tolerance, altruism… – that Claire Vilani wanted to recreate a corner of pastoral America in her home. His own family cocoon has experienced private difficulties in recent years, to the point of ” blow up “. Her psychologist encouraged her to carry out her project: create a restorative place, “where we can smile again and tell ourselves that all is not lost”, explains this former nightclub manager, specialized in “philotherapy” (an unconventional therapy that focuses on positive thinking). As soon as it is built, its cottage will be open to the public, for a modest entrance fee. Her name ? The Country Housepreferable name to the original title (Little House on the Prairie), as a copyright lawyer advised him.
You have 35.38% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.