By George & Josh Bate
Some may remember when, in 2022, a man was awarded an MBE from Queen Elizabeth II and proceeded to shout “Fuck the Queen!” in a room full of esteemed guests. On the surface, such a proclamation would be deemed an act of anti-monarchist rebellion, but, in actuality, it was the reflection of a condition most of us only have a cursory, at best, understanding of. The BAFTA Award winning film I Swear offers audiences an eye-opening and powerful viewing experience that not only informs one about the nuances of the disorder underlying the 2022 outburst – Tourette’s syndrome – but stirs emotions in a manner few films ever do.
From writer and director Kirk Jones, I Swear follows the life of John Davidson, beginning in 1980s Scotland when John first exhibited symptoms of Tourette’s as an adolescent. The film chronicles John’s troubled upbringing into adulthood as he faces scrutiny from those who do not understand this little-known condition before eventually and unexpectedly finding fulfillment and joy.
With New Order’s “Blue Monday” pumping and a promising career as a goalkeeper ahead of our protagonist, I Swear begins on hopeful footing as it immerses audiences into a distinctly and authentically British version of the 1980s. Twelve-year-old John Davidson (played by Scott Ellis Watson) is a likable, capable, and clever boy with his entire life ahead of him as he heads into his first term at Galashiels Academy. His trajectory toward a ‘normal’ life is entirely derailed, however, when John starts to experience tics of the neck and shoulder region. This is soon after coupled with random outbursts of inappropriate language, leading to conflicts with peers, teachers, and family. It doesn’t take long for John to face ostracization from those around him and see the prospects of becoming a successful footballer come crashing down. All of this makes for a difficult beginning of a movie to watch, made all the more gut-wrenching by an incredibly moving turn from young actor Scott Ellis Watson), as the audience is given a front-row seat to watch a young boy as he grapples with abhorrent mistreatment for behaviors beyond his control.
This beginning sets the stage for a difficult, yet necessary watch. Throughout I Swear, John faces belittlement, discrimination, and even assault as a result of a condition that causes him to say the most inappropriate of things at the most inappropriate of times. There’s a version of this story that could lean excessively into the bleakness of John’s story, but, thankfully, writer/director Kirk Jones arrives on a tone that uplifts while never undercutting the gravity of its lead character’s hardships with Tourette’s.
In adulthood, John is played by Robert Aramayo, best known for his role as Elrond in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Aramayo beat out the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke, Michael B. Jordan, and Timothée Chalamet for the Best Actor in a Leading Role award at this year’s BAFTAs and, upon watching I Swear, it quickly becomes clear that Aramayo’s triumph was a deserving one. Aramayo superbly embodies the role of a man plagued, not only by the symptoms of an uncontrollable condition, but by the overt and subtle ways in which this condition changes how others treat him. Aramayo conveys heartbreaking anguish without ever being too showy or unrealistic, allowing viewers to viscerally feel and understand his pain. The actor also brings great warmth to his performance and the movie more broadly as a man who, despite everything thrown against him, remains kind-hearted and hopeful.
Aramayo further excels in his dedication to authentically playing a person with Tourette’s. The British actor reportedly spent three months with the real life John Davidson and consulted regularly with real people with Tourette’s. The result is a performance that appears to genuinely reflect what it is like to live with Tourette’s and, in turn, avoids the kind of over-indulgence and showiness of other actors’ portrayals of physical and neurological conditions. It would seem difficult to make a film with a protagonist that frequently uses sexist, homophobic, or racist slurs, but Aramayo, backed by filmmaker Kirk Jones, approaches Tourette’s with real compassion and understanding and engenders great empathy in John Davidson.
With Aramayo at its center and exceedingly warm performances from Maxine Peake and Peter Mullan in pivotal side roles, I Swear becomes the rare movie that is as powerful as it is informative. As emotionally stirring as it is eye-opening, the film deftly avoids oversentimentality, while also finding subtle, measured humor in the most challenging of situations. To call I Swear a ‘feel-good’ movie seems reductive as it downplays the exceeding warmth packed into this uplifting tale of resilience and the extent to which it provides important education about a condition many of us know little about.
VERDICT: 9/10
I Swear offers an eye-opening and powerful viewing experience that informs about the nuances of Tourette’s and stirs emotions in a manner few films ever do. The film from writer/director Kirk Jones masterfully navigates the tone of a difficult story, expertly managing to depict the challenges of Tourette’s without sugarcoating while being full of heart and humor in a way that does not undercut the seriousness of the subject matter. Richard Aramayo superbly embodies the role of a man plagued by a condition that forces him to say the most inappropriate things at the most inappropriate times. Imbuing the film with incredible warmth and empathy, the BAFTA Award winning actor excels in avoiding the kind of over-indulgence or showiness that characterize other actors’ portrayals of physical and neurological conditions. For as emotionally moving as the film is, it also succeeds in educating the audience about Tourette’s in a manner that never feels heavy-handed or preachy. In turn, I Swear is as touching as it is informative, a film that offers everything you could ever want from a movie and, by the time the credits roll, leaving you a more empathic and informed person.