The Sensei

IMDb RATING

6.5/10

486

YOUR RATING

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

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1 Video

48 Photos

Martial Arts 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.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.5/10

486

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 3 wins & 2 nominations

Karen O'Neil
(as D. Lee Inosanto)

Keith David

The Minister

Melissa Taylor

Lorna

Shane Weingardt

Attacker #1

Mark Griffin Jr.

Attacker #2
(as Mark Griffin)

Ryan J. Parker

Attacker #3
(as Ryan Parker)

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

Picture of Tim

Kerry Knuppe

Brenda

Jonathan Camp

Craig Beard

John Campbell

John

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

Storyline

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Did you know

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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

Featured review

10/10

An amazing story that should be heard by all.

I just finished watching The Sensei starring Mike O'Laskey. It's a great movie with an amazing story! It tugged at all my heartstrings. Growing up in a super religious family, I related to so many emotions the character Mic portrayed. The montage at the end hit me the most. It's the part of the movie that I think Mic felt happiest. He has amazing personality traits I feel we share in common: nurturer, protector, kindred, and accepting. I used to work at a kids summer camp as camp counselor. I loved interacting with them and tried to be the best role model possible.