A story of glass

By tracing the historical path of the master glassmakers of the 18th century who settled in Saint-Étienne and the Forez region, this documentary seeks to create a link between past and present. The industrialists who came from all over France to build their factories along the Loire have left an indelible mark on the Ligérien landscape.

Today, what remains of these factories that once defined an era and contributed to the region’s reputation? Are there still traces of the men and women who shaped Forez? The answer is nuanced, as places like the glassworks of Saint-Just-Saint-Rambert, still in operation after more than 200 years, bear witness to this legacy. The Saint-Gobain company, founded in the early 1800s, also remains a key player in the region, contributing to an international network of glass production for bottles, windows, and other uses.

The master glassmakers working there today carry on a tradition that once bestowed upon them the prestigious status of “noble gentlemen.” New, contemporary structures have emerged, using the same materials as before: sand, water, fire, coal—and now electricity.

This documentary will shed light on this sacred ancestral art and the transmission of its know-how through time. By following the journeys of today’s master glassmakers—their stories, the techniques carefully passed down from father to son—and collecting their reflections on their illustrious predecessors, the film will aim to highlight the achievements of the past, now recognized worldwide.