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The French call it ‘polemique’. Afrikaners call it ‘huismoles’. Aussies call it a ‘blue’. Whatever, you want to call it, there’s high drama in the Luberon Valley at present.

You see, influential film director Ridley Scott (of Gladiator fame) is a resident in the valley - near to the village of Oppede (about 5km from Menerbes).

Ridley’s spot is a few acres of well-manicured vines (there’s mowed grass in the rows between them!); a quintessential Provencal mas; a walled topiary garden (about the same size as a largish rugby field); a pool area and a few thousand cypress trees. It probably weighs in at about 10m euro.

He visits once a year for about a month. For this privilege, he keeps full-time staff and a few large dogs for security.

The problem: One of his neighbours Rose and Christophe Orsel are the proud owners of 35 chickens. They make a noise. Ridley does not like it.

The Gendarmerie have been called in since 2004 to try and keep the peace. Scott has been to court SIX times since then to try and silence the chickens. To no avail. The French lawmen have pointed out to him that the Luberon Valley is agricultural land - chickens are allowed and will continue to thrive in the area. After all, a good roast chicken for Sunday lunch is the ultimate Provencal comfort food.

Scott has now weighed in with a proposal to donate 70,000 euros to local charity/cause.

This has been rejected. The locals are now pointing fingers at ‘those people who think they can buy their way into favour and then do what they like. Even Pierre Cardin, the scion of Lacoste has been caught in the cross fire for his buying up of too much Lacoste property.

It’s all happening………we watch and wait. Never a dull moment.

[merci: Jean -Pierre]

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