If you’ve listened to my podcast for any length of time, you know I’ve been pretty vocal about one of my biggest frustrations with Hollywood. The way Tourette’s syndrome has historically been used as comic relief. It’s a lazy trope, and it’s done a disservice to people living with the condition for decades. So when I sat down to watch I Swear, I’ll be honest, I went in a little skeptical.
I was pleasantly surprised.
I Swear is the true story of John Davidson, a Scottish man diagnosed with Tourette’s in the 1980s at a time when the condition was barely understood, let alone accepted. The film follows him from a promising teenager in Galashiels, a kid with real footballing potential, through adulthood, as he navigates a world that doesn’t know what to do with him, and ultimately becomes an advocate for Tourette’s awareness. He even accepted an MBE from the Queen in 2019, which tells you everything about how far his journey went.
Now, is there humor in this film? Yes. But here’s the difference, and this matters, the humor exists with John, not at him. The moments that made me laugh were earned, intentional, and never at the expense of the Tourette’s community. That’s a line a lot of filmmakers have failed to walk, and director Kirk Jones walks it remarkably well.
Robert Aramayo, best known from The Rings of Power, is flat-out exceptional here. He reportedly spent three months with the real John Davidson preparing for this role, and it shows. There’s nothing performative about his portrayal. The tics feel authentic, the emotional weight feels real, and he carries the entire film without it ever feeling forced. The supporting cast, Maxine Peake, Peter Mullan, and Shirley Henderson, all bring something genuine as well.
My one small reservation, and the reason this is a 4 out of 5 rather than a 5, is that the film occasionally dips into familiar biographical drama territory. It doesn’t fully escape the genre’s pull toward a feel-good resolution. But honestly, that’s a minor gripe for a film that gets so much right.
If you’ve ever rolled your eyes at how Tourette’s has been portrayed on screen, and you should have, I Swear is the film that finally does it differently. Go watch it.
