John Davidson: played by Robert Aramayo | Photo © Graeme Hunter/Courtesy of STUDIOCANAL
3 min read
A powerful depiction of the life of Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson, this emotionally honest and witty film will restore your faith in humanity
An emotionally honest biopic of the Scottish Tourette’s syndrome campaigner John Davidson, I Swear portrays the life story of a man who defies stigma while demanding compassion.
Directed and written by Kirk Jones, the film traces John’s journey from his teenage years in 1980s Galashiels – when the tics, uncontrollable shouting, and social misunderstanding first erupted – through to his adult life, including the moment he is awarded an MBE in 2019.
What makes I Swear feel especially powerful is its balance. It doesn’t shy away from the pain and isolation John faces from bullying, from being misunderstood, from internal shame – but the film is also funny and restores our faith in human kindness.
Photo © Graeme Hunter/Courtesy of STUDIOCANAL
I am a similar age to John, and I recall the powerful impact that his story first made when he was part of a BBC documentary, John’s Not Mad, back in the late 1980s. I remember everyone talking about his experience and the lasting impression that it had in helping educate people about the condition.
It’s a tale that we see reflected across society and reminds us of the pressures teenagers face when their lives and the world around them are full of challenges and obstacles, having to learn how to navigate adolescence at a time when all they want to do is be invisible and fit in.
It is a reminder of what happens when society chooses empathy over embarrassment
This is made all the more difficult if you have any additional needs or a disability. Family life and relationships are often complicated, and even when life is going well, unexpected events can happen that change the path we are on. Supporting children and parents adequately through providing services and by building resilience is so important to smooth the road ahead.
I Swear is a lesson in difference and how wider society tries to fit squares into circles. It evidences the need for young people who face challenges not only to have the support of their families and friends, but also from the agencies that we interact with every day – from schools, health professionals and educators to police and employers.
Ultimately, I Swear is a reminder of what happens when society chooses empathy over embarrassment. It challenges how we see difference, how we talk about disability, and how we listen when someone tells us who they are. Above all else, it is a tale of forgiveness and hope, as well as the courage of one individual – a story not only of survival but of thriving against the odds.
For all of us, I Swear is a lesson in life that our deeds, not words, honesty, and compassion can change more minds than any speech ever will.
Tracy Gilbert is Labour MP for Edinburgh North and Leith
I Swear
Directed, written, and produced by: Kirk Jones
Venue: General cinema release