Ming of Harlem: Twenty One Storeys in the Air

“Ming of Harlem: Twenty One Storeys in the Air” presents a uniquely New York tale about Ming, Al, and Antoine Yates, who shared a high-rise apartment in the Drew-Hamilton complex in Harlem for several years until 2003. The revelation of their unusual living arrangement sparked public shock and disbelief. The twist in their story came when it was discovered that Ming was a 500-pound tiger and Al was a seven-foot alligator. The film captures Yates’s memories alongside a poetic exploration of Ming and Al, blending their presence with a text by philosopher Jean-Luc Nancy. It reimagines the wild within, the naming of animals, unfamiliar territories, and the dynamics between humans and animals.