Reeling: The Sensei

It’s 1985 and homophobia is rampant, AIDS is a mysterious virus affiliated only with gays, and McClain Evans is an out teen who is more than ostracized at school: he is beaten to near death by local thugs. When the bullied teen needs a martial arts teacher and mentor, he turns to Karen Nakano-O’Neil, a victim of intolerance herself. As they ride the wave of hate and intolerance together, the two discover their many similarities, and Karen's own mysterious past is exposed. A brave film about racial, religious, and sexist intolerance, The Sensei may have opened the door to the queer martial arts film genre.