GEN_ 4 suns

This documentary from Italy deals with the medical challenges faced by two groups of people, both of which experience opposition in today’s charged political environment. We go inside the clinic of a special doctor, Dr. Maurizio Bini in Milan as he consults with his many patients. He overseers aspiring parents trying to conceive by in vitro fertilization and the treatment of individuals who are transitioning to the gender they identify with. He does this while also dealing with the constraints of a conservative government at a time when the demand for his services is high. The filmmakers filmed his sessions with his patients as he learns of their situations and recommends treatments. He has a personal approach with each individual and acts as a psychiatrist getting to their mental state as well. Health care is provided by the government in Italy so his services are free. This leads to a real variety of patients who come from all cultures and ethnicities. His practice requires him to be familiar not only with Italian law but also the laws of many foreign countries. And he speaks to his patients in several foreign languages. He even has one patient who is in prison seeking to change their gender. Some of his decisions are not consistent with government policies so he has to bend the rules on occasion. The movie shows us that these issues that may seem abstract are things that medical professionals with heavy scientific backgrounds deal with regularly. At the Q & A Dr. Bini appeared personally to the rather small audience and was delightful in answering questions about his work.