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 approaching the precipice of retirement after a long career, walking 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. In a country with conservative laws but its share of loopholes, his practice encompasses a wide range of patients. Under one roof, people come to see him seeking everything from fertility treatments to gender-affirming care. While the clinic’s patients who appear in the film represent a seemingly disparate collection of people, they are all humans whose lives are profoundly changed by powerful hormones, dispensed with decades of expertise, and always with compassionate care. While both ends of the care spectrum too often find themselves under different forms of assault from hostile laws and ignorant attitudes, the documentary holds much of the controversy on the periphery. Instead, it 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.

In a field of often loud and opinionated issues-focused documentaries that can lose sight of the individual people involved, Gianluca Matarrese film is a welcome oasis. By showing firsthand these doctor-patient interactions, it stands as a stirring portrait of someone not only doing the right thing but also handing the torch to the next generation of caregivers. With a solid foundation and exceptional training left behind, one can feel good about retiring 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).