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Almost Holy

Name: Almost Holy
Director: Steve Hoover
Released: 2015
Duration: 96 min

Representation Score

7.2/10

Good

2015

Director

Steve Hoover

Runtime

96 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Almost Holy is a gritty study of systemic collapse in post-Soviet Ukraine. It succeeds by centering the experiences of the displaced and addicted, offering a perspective often erased by Western media. The film's strength lies in its cultural critique of failed state institutions. However, the film lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ identities and multi-ethnic casting. The narrative is largely driven by a paternalistic male figure, which limits the exploration of diverse gender perspectives. Ultimately, the documentary focuses on the class-based exclusion and survival of those living on the extreme edges of society.

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Category Breakdown

Does Almost Holy have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film focuses on the socioeconomic issues of addiction and homelessness. It does not center queer narratives or provide clear examples of non-traditional gender identities.

How does Almost Holy portray gender?

Fair

Gennadiy Mokhnenko operates through a paternalistic authority. While survival disrupts traditional hierarchies, the film does not prioritize challenging traditional masculinity or highlighting female intellect.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Almost Holy?

Fair

The cast is ethnically homogeneous and predominantly Slavic. However, it offers a rare glimpse into the lives of the displaced and stateless from the former Soviet Union.

How does Almost Holy represent religion and culture?

Excellent

The narrative critiques failed state institutions and traditional religious passivity. It highlights a radical, grassroots morality through the lens of the Pilgrim Republic.

Does Almost Holy include disability representation?

Good

The film depicts the physical and neurological impacts of chronic substance abuse. These struggles are shown with raw ability to act rather than through a lens of inspiration.

Present on Screen

Provides a profound look at the lives of the displaced and stateless.
Offers a powerful critique of failed state and religious institutions.
Depicts the realities of addiction and trauma without using 'inspiration porn'.

Limited or Absent

Lacks explicit representation of LGBTQ+ characters or identities.
Features an ethnically homogeneous cast with little multi-ethnic diversity.
Relies on a paternalistic male authority figure rather than diverse gender perspectives.

Official Synopsis

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ukraine's social and political institutions faced massive change, including an increasingly corrupt government and crippled infrastructure. A number of the nation's youth wound up homeless and addicted to a lethal cocktail of injected cold medicine and alcohol. In the early 2000s a pastor from Mariupol named Gennadiy Mokhnenko took up the fight against child homelessness by forcibly abducting street kids and bringing them to his Pilgrim Republic rehabilitation center—the largest organization of its kind in the former Soviet Union. Gennadiy's ongoing efforts and unabashedly tough love approach to his city's problems has made him a folk hero for some, and a lawless vigilante to others. Despite criticism, Gennadiy is determined to continue his work.

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