I’m not sure how I heard of this movie or why I decided to put it in my queue, but ultimately I decided to watch The Sensei tonight because a chick kicking butt is my default choice in most viewing scenarios (there is no sword play in the movie & I’m not sure why that is on the cover art). When I initially started the movie, I got the same vibe that I usually get from Christian-made movies: extremely earnest, rough around the edges regarding acting & production values & a bit After School special, but still a lot of overt Christian symbols and pastors randomly popping up everywhere, which was a bit weird considering the movie description: martial arts, gay teens, a period piece (set in the 80s). I am so glad that I gave the movie a chance. It is a very touching movie that deals with how to reconcile tradition with love & compassion within the family (racial & religious issues), the church (AIDS & gay issues), at work (gender issues) & in the community. I particularly loved how it showed that living in fear and waiting for change is not as effective as acting, refusing to wait for other people to change, showing compassion & kindness at all opportunities. There was one pivotal scene that doesn’t involve the main characters, a confrontation between a church employee and the pastor, both heterosexual and definitely not sympathetic to the persecution faced by the gay teen, regarding the church’s eagerness to condemn homosexuality inadvertently instigated a criminal act, but not taking the opportunity to criticize the ensuing violence–a problem that the majority of this country is facing. I definitely don’t think that this is a Christian movie per se, but it does deal with issues of faith (do you just love God in the good times or also in the bad) & works (how to treat people that you may initially find morally incompatible, who is the real good Samaritan-do you speak up, stop violence or shun/hurt the persecuted).