Institute History
Description
212 is the quirky tale of three sets of New Yorkers, all looking to connect to and make sense of their lives outside the confines of their matchbox apartments and mundane jobs.
Writer/director Anthony Ng has cleverly engaged the talents of six relatively unknown actors. Their offbeat appearances and personae lend an unexpected air to 212. Dialogue is sparse—no bemoaning the hard city or complaining about lives on the cusp of loneliness—and cast members hit their marks squarely with unpretentious and elegant performances. Ng's approach is light and whimsical. In his NYC, people have a resigned sense of optimism. They meet each other at the Laundromat and over copy machines, or at the photo store. There is one particularly hilarious episode at a speed-dating workshop. In 212, a level of truth prevails—though the characters seem to be searching for love, they also have a difficult time accepting it when it strikes.
Ng layers his film carefully, constructing a comic puzzle of intersecting coincidences and misadventures. It is a pleasure to experience, and when you include some perfect music choices, 212 becomes a triple-scoop romantic comedy with New York flavors.
(Archives note: see also Anthony Ng's Meet The Artist interview on our YouTube Channel.)