GEN_
(2025 | France/Italy/Switzerland | 104 minutes | Gianluca Matarrese)

Like the indefatigable Dr. Bini whose remarkable Milan clinic it portrays, GEN_ is a perpetually upbeat, accepting, and pragmatic collage of the vast spectrum of transformational care it provides. We meet Bini at the precipice of retirement, hiking stick in hand, searching for mushrooms on his recreational hikes through the alpine forests before heading into the hospital to manage an ever-busy practice while doing daily battle with the construction workers over the disturbances caused by ongoing renovations.

He’s an ever upbeat and no-nonsense character whose dedication patient care and nuanced interactions with the vast array of people who seek his help is downright inspirational. His practice ranging from fertility treatments to gender-affirming services, the clinic’s patients represent a seemingly disparate collection of people, all of whose lives are profoundly changed by powerful hormones, dispensed with decades of expertise and compassionate care. While both ends of the care spectrum are under different forms of assault from conservative laws and attitudes, the documentary holds much of the controversy on the periphery and instead remains a refreshingly candid reflection on the practicalities of each doctor-patient interaction, each striving to bring the most harmony in the least unpleasant way possible.

The film is a welcome oasis and a stirring portrait of doing the right thing and handing the torch to the next generation of caregivers so you can retire to forage mushrooms in the forest.

GEN_ played as an official selection of the World Documentary Cinema Competition at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. It has additional screenings in Park City and Salt Lake City throughout the festival and is also available online for the public (January 30–February 2).