The film centres on Malcolm, a former drug addict who has spent years in and out of prison. Fresh out of rehab, he hopes to rebuild his life, but strained family relationships, the risk of relapse, and the difficulty of catching up with a society that has moved on without him leave him struggling to find his footing. To turn his life around, he takes up running, determined to complete a marathon — something his athlete brother once wanted him to do.
Malcolm’s difficulty fitting in is conveyed cleverly through small, telling details. He joins a running club for secondary school students, only to find himself trailing behind the group. His old running shoes have fallen apart, and he attempts to hold them together with super glue. He initially runs in a T-shirt and cargo shorts, barely able to run without throwing up. Later, he tries an office job, dressed in a long-sleeved collared shirt that looks distinctly unnatural on him. In each setting, Malcolm seems visibly out of place.
Yet these details eventually build towards something quite remarkable. When a parent discovers that Malcolm is an ex-convict and demands that he be removed from the running group, the coach chooses to let him stay, instead signing the team up for the Yellow Ribbon Run. Malcolm changes into a Yellow Ribbon jersey, and the rest of the group does the same. For the first time, he looks as though he belongs — not because he has managed to hide his past, but because he has confronted it and accepted who he is.
The film finds beauty in its familiar Singaporean surroundings, from the pavilions of East Coast Park and the red-and-white track at Serangoon Stadium to the imposing skyline around Marina Bay Sands. The cinematography is clean and colourful, with fluid camera movements and a gentle score that give the film a sense of warmth and charm.
The performances are perhaps the film’s greatest strength. Desmond Tan captures Malcolm’s hardened exterior and quiet desperation, while Zhu Hou Ren gives a strong performance as his frail but firm father. Elaine Jin, a veteran actress who has appeared in several of Edward Yang’s most celebrated films, brings warmth and vulnerability to the role of his stepmother, particularly in one of the film’s most affecting scenes. Even the supporting cast members, from Simonboy and Zaki Hussain to child actor Albert Tan, bring plenty of humour and personality to the film.
At the heart of the film is its central metaphor of running: moving forward despite life’s obstacles, not stopping or giving up, nor constantly chasing after something out of reach, but keeping a steady pace and gradually making your way towards where you want to be.
This idea takes on particular significance in Singapore, where life often moves at a relentless pace. With the high cost of living and intense competition in education and employment, there is constant pressure to keep up and get ahead. Malcolm, however, finds himself struggling to do either. Burdened by a criminal record and his lack of a university degree, he is always at risk of being left behind.
Perhaps that is what makes Malcolm’s journey so easy to root for. He may never catch up with everyone else, but what matters is that he keeps going, at his own pace, and finds a way to move forward. There is something hard to dislike about that message, even if the film itself is fairly simple and straightforward. Ultimately, Pace is a sincere and serviceable film about finding your footing and taking life one step at a time.
Pace《脚踏实地》arrives in Singapore cinemas 8 October, 2026.
