Writer-director Kirk Jones steps into the biopic arena with “I Swear”, his sixth feature for Sony Pictures Classics. The film chronicles the life of John Davidson, a Scottish man living with severe Tourette syndrome, and approaches its subject with a mix of humor, discomfort, and ultimately, compassion.
The film opens in 2019, introducing John (Robert Aramayo) as he prepares for a formal meeting with Queen Elizabeth II. In a moment that immediately disarms the audience, John blurts out an obscenity, shocking everyone. From there, the story flashes back to 1983, where a 12-year-old John (Scott Ellis Watson) dreams of becoming a footballer while navigating adolescence and first crushes.
At home, John is surrounded by his parents, Heather (Shirley Henderson) and David (Steven Cree), and his siblings. But as his Tourette’s symptoms begin to emerge—marked by tics and coprolalia—his world starts to shift. His football aspirations fade, his first date unravels, and school becomes a battleground of misunderstanding, fueled by unsympathetic teachers and personal upheaval.
By 1996, John is 25 and still living at home, attempting to manage his condition through medication. A chance reunion with his old friend Murray (Francesco Piacentini-Smith) introduces him to a new support system, particularly Murray’s mother Dottie (Maxine Peake), who becomes a grounding force in John’s life and encourages him to step toward independence.
Before the widely publicized incident at the 79th British Academy Film Awards involving Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo, John Davidson was not a name I was familiar with. Like many, my understanding of Tourette’s was surface-level at best. That’s where “I Swear” finds its power—it challenges that lack of awareness without ever feeling preachy.
Aramayo delivers a breakout, award-worthy performance that demands attention. Much like Daniel Day-Lewis in “My Left Foot”, he walks a delicate line between physical intensity and emotional vulnerability. Some moments provoke laughter, but just as quickly, the film pulls you into John’s reality, making you root for him with genuine investment.
Maxine Peake shines as Dottie, bringing warmth and steadiness to the film, while Peter Mullan adds grit as Tommy Trotter, John’s boss and eventual mentor. Still, at its core, I Swear is about empathy—about confronting discomfort and recognizing the humanity in experiences we may not fully understand.
Final Grade: A
“I Swear” is currently scheduled to open in US theaters on April 24th.
