Dir: Kirk Jones
Cast: Robert Aramayo, Maxine Peake, Shirley Henderson, Peter Mullan, Scott Ellis Watson
Full of humour, warmth, and raw emotion, this biopic brings Scottish campaigner John Davidson’s story to life, spotlighting the daily challenges of Tourette syndrome and inspiring greater understanding
Like many others, my encounters with people who have Tourette syndrome have mostly been through television programmes and documentaries, rather than real-life interactions. Too often, these shows use Tourette’s as a punchline, with series like “The Undateables” exploiting the condition for easy laughs rather than exploring the challenges that people with the condition face. While some moments may seem funny on the surface, the truth is that those living with Tourette’s endure daily struggles, facing obstacles and misunderstandings because of their involuntary tics and outbursts.
I suspect I am not alone in my limited understanding of Tourette’s. Before attending an advance screening of the autobiographical comedy-drama “I Swear” earlier this week, I knew little about the condition. The film tells the extraordinary true story of John Davidson, diagnosed as a teenager at a time when Tourette’s syndrome was barely recognised as a neurological disorder. Since he was 16, John’s journey has been chronicled by the BBC through a series of television documentaries, and today he stands as a national ambassador, tirelessly raising awareness and understanding of Tourette’s.
The film, released to coincide with the publication of John’s autobiography in August, made its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month and is set to arrive in UK cinemas on 10 October. Though I had never seen the documentaries or read his book, I was quickly swept up by the film’s warmth and emotional power.
The story begins with a young John (Scott Ellis Watson) in 1983, nervously stepping into his first day at secondary school in Galashiels, nestled on the Scottish borders. Brimming with confidence, John aspires to become a star goalkeeper, having garnered the attention of local scouts and excelling academically. But his world is quickly upended when sudden tics and outbursts make him a target for bullies and draw the ire of a stern headmaster, who punishes him harshly with a tawse, unable to understand the true cause of John’s behaviour.
Home offers little refuge for John, as his Tourette’s strains his family to breaking point, eventually driving his father away and leaving his mother, Heather (Shirley Henderson), to care for four children alone. By 1996, after enduring years of misunderstanding and cruelty, John finds solace with his childhood friend and his mother, Dottie (Maxine Peake), a compassionate mental health nurse. Dottie encourages the now-adult John (Robert Aramayo) to stop his medication, which only dulls his tics, as there is no known cure, and helps him land his first job at the local community centre. There, under the guidance of the wise caretaker Tommy (Peter Mullan), John is inspired to share his story, offering hope and understanding to others living with Tourette’s.
Much like earlier portrayals of Tourette’s on screen, ‘I Swear’ delivers a wealth of laugh-out-loud moments, especially in the lighter scenes where John’s tics are harmless. These bursts of humor reveal how both director Kirk Jones and John Davidson lean into the comedic side of Tourette’s, even including a line where John admits he finds his own outbursts funny. Jones shows a masterful touch, knowing exactly when to let the swearing tics spark laughter and when to let them deepen the drama. In tense scenes where John is surrounded by people who do not understand his condition, you find yourself holding your breath, hoping his tics stay hidden. When they inevitably surface, you cannot help but sympathise with John, as the fallout from his swearing or twitching is often cruel. Jones walks a tightrope, crafting a film that is not only thought-provoking and filled with hope and inspiration but also unflinchingly honest in its depiction of John’s exhaustion and pain as he confesses to being weary from his lifelong battle with a condition that no one but him appears to understand.
Watching a once-confident young man, bold enough to ask out a girl on his first day of secondary school, slowly diminished by his condition is truly heart-breaking. The knowledge that someone so kind never had the chance to take higher exams at school or chase a career early on is crushing, which makes the moment John finally lands a job—one many would overlook—shine with hope. Much of this emotional impact comes from Aramayo’s standout performance, the most significant of his career. The 32-year-old actor captures John’s confidence through the years, but also lays bare his vulnerability after years of being overlooked and mistreated by those meant to support him, especially authority figures like his parents, teachers, and even the police. Aramayo delivers a performance that is both gut-wrenching and hilarious, skillfully portraying a real person with Tourette’s with respect and accuracy, never veering into mockery, and his flawless Scottish accent even made me question his Yorkshire roots.
What lingers most after watching ‘I Swear’ is its powerful message. I urge everyone to seek it out, not just to learn about Tourette’s, but to better support those living with it. Since there is no cure, the best we can offer is understanding and acceptance, recognising that their words and actions are beyond their control. Although awareness has grown since John’s diagnosis over forty years ago, there is still much work to be done so that people with Tourette’s in the UK and beyond feel truly accepted. Films like this, along with tireless advocates like John, are paving the way for real change.
Although the filmmaking sometimes feels rough around the edges and a bit episodic in its structure, Jones’s writing shines throughout. Most importantly, the film powerfully celebrates an extraordinary and inspiring individual, brilliantly highlighting his achievements in raising awareness and understanding of Tourette’s.
The Verdict:
This comedy-drama delivers both laughter and heartbreak in equal measure, with Robert Aramayo shining in a standout performance. ‘I Swear’ brings John Davidson’s extraordinary story to life, and you would be hard-pressed to find a film this year that feels warmer or more emotionally powerful.
I Swear is showing in UK Cinemas from 10th October
Dan Loves Film 