I Swear raises awareness of Tourette’s syndrome in the most honest form, capturing every gut-wrenching feeling – from stomach-cramping laughter to eye-stinging tears. The whirlwind of emotions evoked over the two hours harmoniously culminates to its pinnacle message: ‘‘The problem is not Tourette’s; the problem is we don’t know enough about Tourette’s’’.
Based on the true story of John Davidson, the film follows his turbulent life journey with Tourette’s. Beginning at age fourteen growing up in Galashiels in Scotland, we witness how the disease slowly consumes his youth, stripping him of his freedom and opportunities and the scorn he is met with from his headteachers and mother. His endurance through a society diminished of education, acceptance and understanding is portrayed with unflinching realism. The ignorance prevalent in the film is shown with distaste and as inexcusable, with no mercy for the public lack of education.
A moment of catharsis occurs when he is finally diagnosed, but it is unfulfilled as this recognition does not correlate to compassion from society. Davidson experiences horrendous ordeals of violence, isolation and prejudice that make it impossible for him to live a normal life.
The beauty of the film lies when humanity occasionally is redeemed through the few people in his life who show him kindness- in particular Dottie (Maxine Peake) and Tommy (Peter Mullan), whose empathy offers a brief relief amid the dismissal and anguish he is used to. From being told his condition is ‘’imagined, invented and purely for attention’’ to eventually having to be incessantly told not to apologise for his tics. His journey is a painful but powerful transformation.
Robert Aramayo, as the lead role of John Davidson, is best known for his roles in Game of Thrones, and most recently the Amazon TV series ‘The Rings of Power’. But it was his compelling character in ‘‘Behind Her Eyes’’ that made Kurt Jones realise that Aramayo was perfect for the role. He embodies the role unbelievably convincingly, grasping every essence of Davidsons resilience, humour and warmth in the most authentic and eloquent way.
Director Kurt Jones, who locally attended Newport Film School (now part of the University of South Wales), has delivered blockbuster movies such as Nanny McPhee and What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Yet I Swear, his smaller and more intimate project, showcases his finest work. Jones relished in the control and freedom he had and sees him directing more ‘‘low budget and passionate projects’’ in the future. He hopes this is a new era of film whereby at the forefront of the industry is the ‘‘appreciation, funding and making of films about real people, real emotions and real situations’’.
Despite only meeting John three years before the film’s release, his journey with him started in 1989 where Kurt Jones saw Davidson at 15 years old in the documentary ‘‘John’s not Mad’’ and later in a follow up series. Jones drew inspiration from the humour present in these documentaries, a tone he carries into the film with great sensitivity.
The film serves as both education and revelation. It exposes the severe lack of understanding surrounding Tourette’s while simultaneously teaching and dismantling long-held myths. With thirty of its ninety cast members having Tourette’s, I Swear is not only a film about representation—it is representation. It offers genuine hope and justice for the conditions future both in the film industry and society. The film perfectly tussles with the presenting the condition with serosity and respect as well as hilarious chaos. The lesser-known side effects of OCD, anxiety and intrusive thoughts are also given a spotlight to break down the common stereotypes of the disorder. The film compels audiences to learn and reconsider what they already know.
Reviewed by Gemma Gillespie
Venue: Chapters Arts Centre
Screening 10th – 23rd October 2025
https://www.chapter.org/whats-on
