The genetic mysteries of weight gain get put under the microscope in this hour-long PBS documentary from director Richard Rifkind, which tracks a trio of PhD students as they attempt to decipher the elusive protein that controls human appetite.

Smart, focused and affecting, Naturally Obsessed: The Making of a Scientist works so well because it tells a vivid, suspenseful story in the most elemental terms. Centered around three biology graduate students working under Columbia University Medical Center’s Dr. Lawrence Shapiro, the movie charts their parallel quest for scientific success and stardom in addition to academic achievement. Competing in a worldwide race to be the first to publish their findings, the students are out to discover the molecular switch that controls appetite in the human body. Their road to success combines years of trial and error with unflinching dedication, rock-climbing, rumors of pickle juice and, yes, even the music of the Flaming Lips.

Scientist-turned-filmmaker Rifkind does a couple smart things with his movie, tapping into the rich thrill of discovery that drives scientific inquiry, and making it seem cool and palpable in a way that a lot of science-related films (and science teachers, sadly) simply do not. He also gives viewers a sense of investment and rooting interest in the students’ quest, attaching it to a broader social relevance. You might not totally want to go back to high school and pay more attention in biology class, but you’ll certainly have a deeper appreciation of those that did.

Housed in a regular plastic Amaray case, Naturally Obsessed comes to DVD presented in widescreen, with an English language stereo audio track. Unlike a lot of educationally inflected NOVA and PBS titles, this disc has a small clutch of nice supplemental features, throwing a spotlight on basic research and drug design and the educational pipeline that will provide our future generations of scientists. There’s also a discussion guide PDF for teachers, with advice on how to get their own students involved in research activities. To purchase the DVD, phone (800) PLAY-PBS or simply click here; or, if Amazon is totally your thing, click here. B+ (Movie) B (Disc)