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The Sensei

  • 20082008
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
449
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
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 trailer2:11
1 Video
48 Photos
  • Action
  • Drama
  • Sport

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.

IMDb RATING
6.5/10
449
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Diana Lee Inosanto
  • Writer
    • Diana Lee Inosanto
  • Stars
    • Diana Lee Inosanto
    • Keith David
    • Melissa Taylor
Top credits
  • Director
    • Diana Lee Inosanto
  • Writer
    • Diana Lee Inosanto
  • Stars
    • Diana Lee Inosanto
    • Keith David
    • Melissa Taylor
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 15User reviews
    • 14Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 2 nominations

    Videos1

    The Sensei
    Trailer 2:11
    The Sensei

    Photos48

    The Sensei (2008)
    D. Lee Inosanto as "Karen", the soul searching Sensei.
    Mike O'Laskey plays McClain, a lonely and bullied gay teen who is taught the martial ways by a female sensei (teacher) played by D. Lee Inosanto as "Karen" in THE SENSEI.
    (L to R) Kerry Knuppe as Brenda and Mike Olaskey as McClain, a bullied gay teen in THE SENSEI.
    Mike Olaskey playing "McClain", a bullied gay teen, and D. Lee Inosanto as his soul searching teacher/sensei, "Karen" in THE SENSEI.
    (L to R) Actress Tamlyn Tomita poses at the Red Carpet Premiere of THE SENSEI with writer/director/actress D. Lee Inosanto for the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.
    (L to R) Michael Hake, Sab Shimono, and Tim Lounibos in a scene from THE SENSEI.
    (L to R) D. Lee Inosanto, Emily Kuroda and Tim Lounibos in THE SENSEI.
    (L to R) Gina Scalzi as "Annie" and Mike Olaskey as "McClain" play mother and son in THE SENSEI.
    Rehearsing on the set of THE SENSEI
    Co-Producer & Assistant Stunt Coordinator with Actor, Mike O'Laskey on the set of THE SENSEI.
    (L to R) At the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, Actor Rex Lee poses with writer/director/ actress D. Lee Inosanto on the red carpet at the DGA. "THE SENSEI"- Los Angeles Premiere.

    Top cast

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

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    Storyline

    Edit
    After punks at school hand him multiple savage beatings, gay teen McClain Evans, discreetly begins martial arts training with Karen O'Neil, a mysterious woman who had her own cross to bear with the prejudiced and bigoted small town community. As McClain learns to defend himself from hatred and bigotry, the student and his teacher expose several raw nerves in their rural Colorado community. —trivwhiz
    • timeframe 1980s
    • martial arts
    • gay
    • colorado
    • teacher
    • 61 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • You have the right to defend yourself against hatred, and self hatred!
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Drama
      • Sport
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    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

    User reviews15

    Review
    Top review
    A very moving tale, well written.
    This was one of the best movies of the decade as a drama. Well told, well written, beautifully acted, nice twist. An inspiring tale for many audiences and worth any persons time every second of the movie. The transformation of characters engages the audience as the script progresses. The martial arts in the scenes are well filmed and appear to be very realistic. Seeing a female Martial Arts Teacher is inspiring for women of all ages and breaking stereo-types on many levels of race, sex, and sexual orientation. The strength of the movie comes through on so many levels and is heartfelt. It is the type of movie that I would recommend to young and old alike.
    helpful•2
    2
    • wildman69
    • Oct 13, 2011

    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

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

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

    Related news

    I, Frankenstein - Ron Balicki and Diana Lee Inosanto Talk Bringing Martial Arts to Movies
    Jan 28DreadCentral.com
    Deane Ogden: Bigger, Better, Bolder in 2011
    Dec 22SCOREcastOnline.com

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