Meet Serena. The scientist prefers germs over people and being right over being liked. When one of Serena’s jealous outbursts toward a successful colleague turns serious, her university provides an ultimatum: turn that attitude around or your research lab is toast. Now meet Caroline, the bubbly positivity coach whose sweetness could rival a ray of sunshine dipped in unicorn dust. Tired of her normal gig as a sexual harassment trainer teaching remorseless men why they shouldn’t pinch their coworkers’ butts, Caroline jumps at the chance to help soften Serena’s abrasive edges. It’s a good thing she’s up for the challenge, because it’s going to take a whole lot of safe space, late-night glasses of wine, and basic instruction on the importance of being nice to get to the heart of Serena’s brash personality and quick temper. When a surprise visit from her teenage half-brother Ethan leads her to confront her past, Serena finds herself on the verge of both a scientific discovery and a personal breakthrough.

The ultimate female buddy comedy, Sensitivity Training is the first feature from writer-director Melissa Finell (Disaster Preparedness, Frameline39). It stars Anna Lise Phillips as Serena, Jill E. Alexander (Silicon Valley, Mad Men) as Caroline, and comedian Quinn Marcus (MTV’s Girl Code) as Serena’s Quidditch-playing grad student and lab assistant.

— NATALIE MULFORD