. The "piece" refers to a black comedy about a precocious nine-year-old boy named Alex (played by Keaton Nigel Cooke) who lives in a mansion and develops a obsessive crush on Jared, a brooding 25-year-old handyman. Plot and Character Details The Protagonist
"Alex and the Handyman" (2017) is a "delightful short" that offers a bittersweet, charming, and highly relatable look at childhood imagination and the need for connection. It’s a testament to the power of filmmaking that a 10-20 minute short can leave such a lasting impression on its audience, making it a standout entry from 2017 worthy of revisiting.
Months later, Alex began a small project on his own—minutes of ordinary life stitched with the kind of tenderness he’d been avoiding. He filmed the way rain pooled on the window, how the neighbor downstairs watered his fern, a close-up of a potholder with a burn mark like a secret scar. He was clumsy at first; the images felt too intimate, like photographs of an intimacy he wasn’t sure he deserved. alex and the handyman 2017mkv
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Portrays Alex's alcoholic, pill-popping mother. It’s a testament to the power of filmmaking
The short serves as an unconventional, stylized entry in LGBTQ+ youth representation, exploring the early, confusing nature of identity. Understanding the MKV Search Intent
However, a larger contingent of viewers found the film deeply unsettling. One Letterboxd review described it as an "odd yet appealingly twisted little short," while another went further, stating it "soon turns into a very dark exercise about twisted devotion and the triumphing of evil deviousness over innocence". Some critics compared its darkly comedic tone to the works of filmmaker Todd Solondz, known for his similarly provocative and uncomfortable portrayals of suburban life. He was clumsy at first; the images felt
: Critics often point to the film's high production value and the strong lead performance. Comparisons have been made to the "coming-of-age" genre, though with a much darker, satirical edge. Thematic Complexity
When his mother hires (Aaron Luis Profumo), a moody, 25-year-old handyman, to perform repairs around the estate, Alex becomes instantly infatuated. Developing an intense crush, the young boy resorts to increasingly bizarre, persistent, and awkward antics to capture Jared's attention. Core Themes
The best way to experience "Alex and the Handyman" and support its creators is to seek out official distribution channels. While the film's official availability has been limited, you can:
A lonely 9-year-old who is obsessed with the film The First Wives Club . Aaron Profumo The 25-year-old handyman and performance artist. Mom Hogan Gorman Alex's distracted, often-drinking mother. Carlos Silvio Canihuante The second handyman hired at the end of the film. Viewing and Availability Alex and the Handyman (Short 2017) - IMDb