PACE (脚踏实地) (2026)

Genre: Drama
Director: Jonathan Choo
Cast: Desmond Tan, Jack Choo, Elaine Jin, Simonboy, Zaki Hussain
Runtime: 1 hr 42 mins
Rating: NC16 (Some Drug Use & Coarse Language)
Released By: Golden Village
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 8 October 2026

Synopsis: Fresh out of rehab, Malcolm, a 40-year old former addict, looks for purpose in his late brother’s passion for running. But confronted with unresolved family expectations, a judgmental society, and destructive self-loathing, can Malcolm keep pace, or will he succumb to the unrelenting tempo of society?

Movie Review:

‘Pace’ wears its heart on its sleeve, and for that reason, those expecting a more complex portrait of the adjustment issues that ex-convicts may face upon their re-entry into society may be somewhat disappointed by this straightforward portrayal.

Indeed, even as our protagonist Malcolm (Desmond Tan) does encounter a number of bumps along the way, we dare say these are child’s play relative to the challenges that many other convicts would likely encounter.

That said, you cannot fault first time director-writer Jonathan Choo (son of veteran MediaCorp actor Zhu Houren) for his earnestness, which brims through in every single scene of this simple, gentle but nevertheless heartwarming drama.

Choo introduces us to Malcolm right after the latter’s release from a halfway house, whereupon he is received at the gate by his stepmother Sally (Hong Kong actress Elaine Jin). Sally tells Malcolm not to let his father (Zhu Houren) know that she had gone to receive him, which foregrounds the conflict between father and son that is but one of the issues Malcolm confronts later on.

Malcolm too is initially unused to the manual nature of his job as a mover, even though he is lucky enough to have a buddy in fellow former convict Larry (Simonboy), who vouches for Malcolm in front of his boss Matthew (Andi Lim, of ‘We Are All Strangers’). Part of that is due to his unfitness, not just due to his heavy smoking routine, but also because of the middle-aged pot belly he has gained from his halfway house days.

His wake-up call comes in the form of a cheeky secondary school kid Benson (Albert Tan), who taunts his physical state during a jog at East Coast Park. Trying to catch up to Benson brings him into the company of Benson’s running team led by coach Firdaus (content creator Zaki Hussain), who reluctantly accepts Malcolm’s ask to join them on their three- to four-weekly runs at the Park or at Serangoon Stadium.

It is frankly not hard to guess just where the movie goes from there, as (Jonathan) Choo draws a relatively straight line from Malcolm’s adjustment to eventual (and inevitable) redemption. What however gives the story additional poignancy is how Malcolm’s decision to start running isn’t coincidental – while in prison, Malcolm’s younger brother Jing (Joel Choo, Zhu Houren’s other son and Jonathan’s younger brother) had died of a cardiac arrest; and the last third in particular shows how Jing’s passion and later on, obsession, with running, contributed to his unfortunate demise.

Notwithstanding its predictability, ‘Pace’ finds its emotional ballast in the unassuming story of Malcolm’s determination to put one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward in life. That is as much credit to Malcolm’s grit as it is to the people around him willing to give him another chance in life – including Benson and the other members of the running team, Firdaus, and last but not least, his father and stepmother; in particular, a late scene that sees Sally let go of the feelings she has been bottling up inside since Jing’s death is quietly devastating.

It won’t win him any awards, but Tan gives a largely understated but quietly moving portrayal of Malcolm, who is trying, despite his circumstances, to make the best of what comes next.

His chemistry with teenage co-star Albert Tan is especially rewarding, as the unlikely friends find common ground in parental expectations, societal pressures and finding the confidence to live their lives on their own terms. That they are at such different stages of life makes their bond all the more endearing, and reminds us that figuring out what we want for ourselves is hardly a challenge confined to the young.

There are also a couple of nice, tender moments between Tan and Zhu, as well as between Tan and Jin, which give the strained family relationships a welcome warmth. These are the defining moments of humanity that you will remember the film by, more so than any of its predictable turns.

Indeed, ‘Pace’ plays it safe, perhaps sometimes too safe, all the way, and those hoping that it might venture beyond its familiar path will probably leave wanting. Yet there is something to be said for a film that is this earnest about the possibility of starting over, and about the difference that a little kindness and understanding can make to someone trying to do just that.

For all its predictability, ‘Pace’ is still a heartwarming, uplifting portrait of second chances. We may not share Malcolm’s circumstances, but we can certainly relate to his need for another opportunity to get things right - and that is something all of us could use every time we stumble, fall and try to pick ourselves up again.

Movie Rating:

(Predictable and sometimes too safe, ‘Pace’ is nonetheless a heartwarming portrait of second chances, anchored by Desmond Tan’s quietly moving performance and moments of genuine humanity)

Review by Gabriel Chong