The Sensei

2008 film by Diana Lee Inosanto

2008 (2008)

Running time

95 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglish

The Sensei is a 2008 independent feature film, written, produced and directed by Diana Lee Inosanto (credited as D. Lee Inosanto).

Plot summary

Set in Colorado, the story takes place in 1985 during the rise of the AIDS panic. McClain Evans is a gay high school student, constantly the target of bullying in his town. Karen O'Neil is a woman haunted by the death of her pro-boxer fiancé, Mark Corey. After a five-year absence, she returns to her family, who runs a successful martial arts school. When McClain is attacked by three local teens, his mother, Annie, asks Karen to teach her son martial arts so that he can defend himself. Karen's family is fearful of anti-gay retaliation, so Karen is forced to secretly teach McClain at night. When word of this reaches her family, and the small-town community, violence erupts, and family and friendship are challenged, forcing Karen to reveal her own dark and tragic secret to those she loves most.

Cast

Diana Lee Inosanto as Karen Nakano O'Neil
Michael O'Laskey as McClain Evans
Brad Thornton as Larry Blackbelt
Keith David as the Minister
Louis Mandylor as Mark Corey
Sab Shimono as Taky Nakano
Emily Kuroda as Flora Nakano
Michael Yama as Yori Nakano
Tim Lounibos as Simon Nakano O'Neil
Tzi Ma as the Buddhist Monk
Mark McGraw as Rick Beard
Jonathan Camp as Craig Beard
Gina Scalzi as Annie Evans
Bryan Frank as Peter O'Neil
Michael Hake as Gary O'Neil
Ron Balicki as Samurai #1 / Sparring Partner Vince

Awards

Best Feature Writer – La Femme International Film Festival^[1]
Honorable Mention, Best Feature Film – Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival^[2]
Best Screenplay (Feature Film) – Hoboken International Film Festival^[3]