When you think of glass, you think of windows, carafes, lighting fixtures, perfume bottles, and countless everyday objects.

At the heart of this film lies the story of this remarkable material and the skilled gestures behind it—gestures that have recently received international recognition. In December 2023, UNESCO inscribed the Knowledge, Craft Techniques and Skills of Handmade Glass on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This recognition celebrates the craftsmanship of glassmaking itself and, with it, an entire sector that transforms raw materials into extraordinary creations, embodying the captivating art of shaping glass through fire.

Glassmaking encompasses a rich and multifaceted world: ancient yet constantly evolving, deeply rooted in tradition while driven by innovation. It embraces a remarkable diversity of professions, techniques, artistic expressions, and gestures. UNESCO's inscription acknowledges not only an exceptional craft tradition but also the need to safeguard, document, and pass this ancestral knowledge on to future generations.

From sand to decorated glass, from master artisans to renowned manufacturers, from one-of-a-kind works to industrial production, glassmaking gestures—and above all, the women and men who preserve, practice, and transmit them—tell the story of a long, fascinating, and ever-evolving chain of knowledge and craftsmanship.