The story of Ukrainian Pastor Gennadiy Mokhnenko has been turned into a documentary, Almost Holy, and is being screened tonight by Spazju Kreattiv.

Mokhnenko calls himself ‘Pastor Crocodile’ and has made a name for himself by patrolling the streets and forcing homeless, drug-addicted children to stay at his centre.

“People must have a home, they must have food, they must have family. It’s not God’s problem, it’s my problem,” he declares.

His Pilgrim Republic became the largest rehabilitation centre on the territory of the former USSR state, while his cruel working methods bordering on vigilantism turned him into a public hero for some people and a self-proclaimed saviour for others. But despite all the criticism, Gennadiy is determined to carry on with his work.

The Guardian describes the documentary as gripping and states that it has “the propulsive power and arc of a drama”. In describing Mokhnenko, it adds that “…in this burly man of God, with his thunderous laugh and larger than life personality, the director Steve Hoover has a confounding, complex central character who acts as the lens through which we see the track-marked underbelly of this troubled country.”

One of the documentary’s executive producers is acclaimed film director Terrence Malick.

■ The documentary screens tonight at St James Cavalier, Valletta at 9pm, with a repeat on Saturday, October 29 also at 9pm. It is being shown in English and Ukrainian (with English subtitles). The film is suitable for those aged 15 and over. For more information, visit kreattivita.org.