The film follows the extraordinary journey of stained-glass artist Rowan LeCompte and his longtime collaborator, master craftsman and philosopher Dieter Goldkuhle, as they take on their final commission: a monumental stained-glass window for the Washington National Cathedral—Rowan’s artistic home since he was just 16. Now 81, he returns to the cathedral one last time, determined to crown his life’s work with a creation worthy of the ages.
Rowan envisions and paints. Dieter chooses, cuts, and sets the glass with meticulous care. Together, they embark on a four-year odyssey fueled by passion, precision, and an unshakable devotion to beauty. But as deadlines slip and creative tensions mount, their partnership is tested to its core.
With sweeping visuals and emotional depth, this film is a testament to perseverance, the fragility of vision, and the enduring power of art to rise from the rubble. Will their window ever see the light of day?
WHY THIS FILM
This film offers a rare, intimate look into the soul of the creative process—an odyssey of vision, struggle, and triumph that few ever witness. Through the story of a stained-glass masterpiece brought to life, it reveals the passion, persistence, and vulnerability behind great art. In doing so, it doesn’t just document creativity—it inspires it. It's no surprise the film was honored with the “Best of the Festival” award at the DC Independent Film Festival.
Told through luminous, cinematic imagery, this is more than a film about glass—it’s a meditation on light itself, and the power of human hands to shape it into meaning. It celebrates beauty born from adversity and invites viewers to reconnect with their own capacity for wonder and creation.