The Sensei (2008)

In the shadowy dawn of the AIDS epidemic in 1985, Karen O'Neil, burdened by the haunting loss of her boxer fiancé, finds herself returning to her roots in a conservative Colorado hometown after a five-year absence. Her family—a pillar of their church community and a respected name in the martial arts business—offers her solace, but also a glimpse into the heart of prejudice that beats within the town. When McClain Evans, a gay teenager shunned and brutally beaten by his peers, stumbles into her life, Karen is moved by his plight. In the secrecy of their shared pain, she becomes his unlikely mentor, teaching him the martial way to shield him from the town's bigotry. However, the world they've cocooned themselves in begins to crumble when their secret is exposed, sending ripples through the community and stirring a whirlwind of events that threaten to upturn Karen's life and her family's standing. In this poignant tale set against the backdrop of a small town's biases, The Sensei weaves a narrative of courage and resilience. As McClain learns to fend off hatred, and Karen confronts the prejudices of her community, they expose the raw underbelly of their rural setting, challenging norms and shaking the very foundations of their world. This is a story about the fight against hatred—a fight that extends beyond the confines of a martial arts dojo and into the very soul of a community.

The Sensei is an action movie featuring Diana Lee Inosanto.

The Sensei is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Freevee, Plex, Plex Player, Tubi TV, VUDU Free and Xumo Play.

It is also possible to buy The Sensei on Amazon Video and Vudu.