Cupola, Where the Furnaces Glow is a Japanese drama film set in the early 1960s in Kawaguchi, a city in the Saitama Prefecture of Japan. The movie focuses on the lives of families who work in foundries and foundry-related industries. It is a story of hope, hard work, and determination that follows the life of a young girl named Saeko, who dreams of going to college.
Saeko comes from a working-class family, and her parents work in a foundry. Despite the challenges her family faces, Saeko is determined to get an education and make a better life for herself. She spends most of her time studying and even manages to win a scholarship to attend a prestigious high school.
Along the way, Saeko faces many obstacles, including discrimination from her classmates and financial difficulties. However, she perseveres and eventually graduates from high school with honors. Her dream of attending college seems within reach until her father suffers a tragic accident that forces her to choose between her family and her education.
The film is a poignant reflection on the struggles of working-class families in Japan during the post-war era. It shows the hardships and injustices that these families faced, but also celebrates their resilience and strength. Through Saeko's story, the movie portrays the universal desire for education and the sacrifices that individuals and families must make to achieve their dreams.
