How Desmond Tan gained 15kg for Pace: 1L milkshakes, nasi lemak and char kway teow

The idea for the film first came to him in the months before the pandemic “at a point in my life when I was running quite frequently,” Choo said. “I thought, ‘Running looks great on film’. And then, instantly, the idea of a prodigal son returning to a family just hit me.” Subsequently, his research into addiction led him to visits to halfway houses and conversations with former drug users.

At no point, though, is the film ever preachy or heavy-handed, choosing to steer clear of plot cliches and overwrought acting in favour of understated emotion, visual irony and genuinely funny moments. The result is a movie that’s refreshing, heartfelt and life-affirming.

Tan in the lead role was “able to understand completely” how “shrouded in shame” the character was, Choo shared. “It’s not an easy thing to bring out, especially in silent moments.”

And, the weight gain went beyond the issue of appearance. “When he gained that weight, and physically changed, it also helped him tap into the character emotionally,” Choo said.