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The Sensei

  • 2008
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 43m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
502
YOUR RATING
The Sensei (2008)
Inspiring and equally powerful and endorsed by the Matthew Shepard Foundation, THE SENSEI is a film about tolerance, acceptance, and the courage to stand against hate. Lonely gay teenager, McClain (Mike O'Laskey), struggles to fit in with his classmates in a small, conservative Colorado town.  After he is severely beaten at school, Karen O'Neil (Diana Lee Inosanto) a martial arts"Sensei", secretly decides to train him to defend himself at the private request of his mother (Gina Scalzi).  When the town discovers their secret, a series of catastrophic events unfold.  Co-starring Keith David, Louis Mandylor, Tzi Ma, Sab Shimono, Emily Kuroda, & Mark McGraw.---USA

Domestic Distribution: Echobridge Entertainment (March 9, 2010)
Foreign Distribution: Entertainment 7
Play trailer2:12
1 Video
51 Photos
Martial ArtsActionDramaSport

In 1985 Colorado, a long-absent woman, proficient as a black belt in martial arts, returns home where she agrees, secretly, to train a bullied gay teen.In 1985 Colorado, a long-absent woman, proficient as a black belt in martial arts, returns home where she agrees, secretly, to train a bullied gay teen.In 1985 Colorado, a long-absent woman, proficient as a black belt in martial arts, returns home where she agrees, secretly, to train a bullied gay teen.

  • Director
    • Diana Lee Inosanto
  • Writer
    • Diana Lee Inosanto
  • Stars
    • Diana Lee Inosanto
    • Keith David
    • Melissa Taylor
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    502
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Diana Lee Inosanto
    • Writer
      • Diana Lee Inosanto
    • Stars
      • Diana Lee Inosanto
      • Keith David
      • Melissa Taylor
    • 15User reviews
    • 14Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Sensei
    Trailer 2:12
    The Sensei

    Photos51

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    Top cast75

    Edit
    Diana Lee Inosanto
    Diana Lee Inosanto
    • Karen O'Neil
    • (as D. Lee Inosanto)
    Keith David
    Keith David
    • The Minister
    Melissa Taylor
    • Lorna
    Shane Weingardt
    • Attacker #1
    Mark Griffin Jr.
    Mark Griffin Jr.
    • Attacker #2
    • (as Mark Griffin)
    Ryan J. Parker
    Ryan J. Parker
    • Attacker #3
    • (as Ryan Parker)
    Michael O'Laskey II
    Michael O'Laskey II
    • McClain Evans
    • (as Mike O'Laskey)
    Ayo Fadeyi
    • Policeman #1
    • (as Ayodeji Fadeyi)
    Curtis Magee-Ortiz
    • Policeman #2
    Jeff Liu
    • Matthew
    Danny Lopez
    Danny Lopez
    • Picture of Tim
    Kerry Knuppe
    Kerry Knuppe
    • Brenda
    Jonathan Camp
    Jonathan Camp
    • Craig Beard
    John Campbell
    John Campbell
    • John
    Ben Perkins
    Ben Perkins
    • Buck
    Matthew Wood
    • Matt - Kid being teased
    Steve Bradley
    • Protective Parent
    Robert Kammer
    • Biker with Beer
    • Director
      • Diana Lee Inosanto
    • Writer
      • Diana Lee Inosanto
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews15

    6.4502
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    Featured reviews

    6bousozoku

    Flashbacks are a tool, not a weapon

    I appreciate the thoughts behind this film. It makes points, if you can find them, that need to be seen and said and realized and remembered.

    Following the story takes strong dedication as the numerous flashbacks injure the story and misdirect the message.

    Diana Lee Inosanto and Michael O'Laskey II are good but not exactly convincing and they should be. Their fighting is more convincing than their acting.

    Sab Shimono and Emily Kuroda delivered realistic performances but they were mostly in the background.

    McClain's female friend needs acting lessons.

    I admire the take on hate, ignorance, and discrimination.

    This is definitely the opposite of a Hollywood movie, but that shouldn't kill it. Regardless of the flaws, it's worth watching two or three times to see what's happening. The ideas were worth making into a movie.
    10Angel27090

    Highly recommend

    This was a great movie, it really depicted the way things were in the 80's. The story was a amazing it is so easy to get lost in the script. The ending really does bring the movie together. It movie gets better every minute, you spend the whole time wanting to know the characters and what is going to happen to them. It is an amazing movie, I can't wait until the movie is out on DVD so I can have my own copy that I can watch whenever I want. It is truly an amazing film, it is defiantly one of the bet movies that I have seen in a long time. I would love for this movie to be show in the theaters in a wide release or at least in a limited release.
    yinka_ayinla

    definitely worth watching

    I found this movie surprisingly good,Some unexpected twists, rich story line, good acting. This is not a martial art movie, this is a good movie set in a martial art background. Its difficult to decide which is better diana lee's acting or her martial arts both are top grade. Louis Mandylor is quite touching with his role. Generally good acting from everyone. The fight scenes are the most realistic i have seen in a very long time. None of the one person beating up 20 people that has become tiresome this days in martial art movies.It also shows the rich character and morale fiber which is what the martial arts is about not just hammering people to a pulp like MMA tries to portray.
    8disdressed12

    a strong message

    this martial arts film is also a film about about prejudice,hypocrisy,intolerance and violence.those are some weighty issues.and the film doesn't shy away from them.in fact,it wades right into them head-on.there is one scenes that depicts someone being savagely beaten.the worst of it isn't shown,but is is implied and you do hear it off camera.this is no fluff piece bu any stretch of the imagination.it's well done and doesn't sugar coat anything.but you get to see some touching moments as well.it would be wrong to compare this to The Karate Kid.they do both have similarities but this one has a much stronger message whereas in my opinion The karate Kid was more focused on the entertainment aspect.when you go into his film,expect to be jarred.for me,The Sensei is an 8/10
    9kalithor

    Hidden gem, more people should see..

    Thanks to my Roku, I have been discovering alot of older independent gay films. This movie is so good, minus the 80s Aids paranoia it's a really good story. they tackle some heavy issues very well. So glad I found this movie, putting it my favorites list

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      ON SCREEN: "Of the 1,185,000 Americans living with HIV/AIDS, 24-27% are unaware of their HIV infection. More than one quarter of the 44,000 new infections each year are women, as the disease today is transmitted primarily through heterosexual sex."
    • Goofs
      BNSF locomotives are seen in a sequence set in 1985. This railroad was formed by a merger that took place in 1996.
    • Quotes

      McClain Evans: The first time that I saw my sensei was in a dusty old photograph on the wall.

    • Connections
      References Kung Fu (1972)
    • Soundtracks
      Whisper Without Warning
      Written & Performed by SANCTION

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    FAQ

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 4, 2008 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • MySpace site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Colorado, USA
    • Production companies
      • Kinetic Media (II)
      • Zen Mountain
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $220,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 43 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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