Displaying items by tag: I Swear movie

I SWEAR

UK, 2025, 120 minutes, Colour.

Robert Aramayo, Maxine Peake, Peter Mullan, Shirley Henderson, Scott Ellis Watson, Francesco Piacentini-Smith.

Directed by Kirk Jones.

We may think we know what Tourette’s Syndrome is and how it manifests itself – especially the outbursts of bad language. But, there is so much more to the to the physical, emotional and psychological condition that needs so much more understanding from the general public.

I Swear, with its direct title, offers a fine opportunity to be absorbed in the film drama, with comic touches, to appreciate those living with Tourette’s and its effect on their lives.

This is the story of Scotsman, John Davidson. There had been a television documentary on him in 1989 and some news follow-ups. But, for most audiences, this film will be something of a revelation. It starts in a rather cheeky manner with John’s longtime friend and mother-figure, Dottie, urging him to come into the hall, 2019, where Queen Elizabeth is about to present him with a Royal honour. He goes in, reluctantly, a sudden tic and a sudden four letter outburst. And then we go back to appreciate his situation, his life.

The year is 1983. John, a wonderful performance from Scott Ellis Watson, is at school, at home with his proud father, his sisters, his ever-concerned mother. He is a young footballer and great expectations, from scouts, from his father. Then, suddenly the tics, the jerking motions, head, arms, and the blurting out of profanities, blunt and coarse subconscious statements, unintended, alarming the family, school authorities, the police… And bewilderment for the young John.

Moving to 1996, adult John, Robert Aramayo convincing in such a demanding role, is beset with the tics, uncontrollable, and even more rough and disturbing verbal outbursts. His mother, played well by Shirley Henderson, still cannot understand. And he is living at home with her. But he meets an old friend, is welcomed into the friend’s family, especially with by his mother, Dottie, a very engaging Maxine Peake, who invites John to live with the family, breaking with his mother, but finding comfort in a family life, Dottie encouraging him that he need not apologise for what he cannot help.

Scots actor, Peter Mullan, has been a longtime screen presence, often a villain, but here a most engaging caretaker of a centre who befriends John, auditioning him, despite the tics and outbursts, and employing him as an assistant at the centre.

The actual John Davidson is the executive producer of this film which means that his collaboration with the writer-director, Kirk Jones, means that what follows is accurate. The challenge to John to communicate to the public about Tourette’s, to engage with others experiencing the syndrome (and a wonderful scene where he meets a young woman with the syndrome with tics having to be seen to be believed and an extraordinary conversation full of blunt outbursts). There is a sequence where he gathered a large number of those with the Syndrome, along with their parents, giving one of those encouraging speeches for appreciation and understanding.

Then back to 2019 and Her Majesty. A public British acknowledgement of his contribution to enabling the public to understand Tourette’s syndrome.

But, the film does not end there. A wonderful postscript. Researchers at Nottingham University in 2023 moving from medical assistance to neurologic solutions, the wearing of devices which may have an effect on the nervous system, controlling the syndrome. And a note that it has had 59% success – and one hopes that this is where progress will develop.

This is a film straightforwardly told, a strong message film, well worth seeing a second time.

1. The blunt title? Introduction to Tourette’s Syndrome? Not just theoretical but with real life people and the syndrome?
2. The prologue, 2019, John dressed up, outside, the Queen, Dottie persuading him to come in, the instant swearing? Setting the tone? And audiences going through the journey to return to the sequence and the honour from the Queen?
3. A Scottish story, Galashiel, the atmosphere of the town, families and homes, school and football? Pubs? The 1980s? The Davidson family, parents, the relationship, John the only son, the daughters? John and his age, school, friends, football, his father’s expectations, the scouts, prospects? A pleasant and genial personality?
4. The emerging of the syndrome, the sudden tics, head movements, jerking, arms? And the verbal outbursts, inappropriate, subconscious themes, almost the opposite of expectations? The effect on John, the football, his mother worried, spitting, sitting him away from the table? His father’s disappointment, exasperation, disappearance? His mother having to look after him? Issues at school, social?
5. Into the 1990s, John and his age, still living at home, the manifestations of the tics, the inappropriate remarks? In trouble, relationship with the police, his future? His weary mother and her exasperation? Not understanding?
6. Dottie, the terminal diagnosis? John meeting Murray, their friendship, acceptance? The invitation to live in the house, the difficulty for his mother, John and his decision? Welcomed into the house, Dottie and her husband, Murray? Dottie’s background as a nurse, her interest, the personal touch, accepting all his tics and outbursts, telling him he did not have to apologise, the humour and pathos of the home sequences? Murray and his friendship, his father and the acceptance, celebrations, meals…?
7. Dottie wanting John to get a job, her approach to Tommy, his work at the centre, needing an assistant, meeting with John, the awkwardness of arriving at the centre, other personnel? The discussions with Tommy, the outbursts, his reactions? The genial Scotsman? Giving Tommy the job, his working at it, effective, enjoying it, the bond between them? Trust? And some amused tolerance on the part of Tommy?
8. The episode at the bar, John enjoying it, his manner, the outburst, the man taking offence, the fight, the police, hospital?
9. The future for John, at the centre, accepted, the work? Tommy and his collapse, the pathos of his death? His house, the arrangement, John to live in his house, the discussions with the authorities about continuing his work, foreboding disappointment, his being accepted?
10. The transition, the bond with Dottie and her family, the mistaken diagnosis? Her continued support?
11. Urging John to share his experiences, the making of contacts, advertising, the episode with the Tourette’s Syndrome girl in the car, her anxious parents, the conversation with all the tics and outbursts? The happy parents? The gathering of all the people with Tourette’s, in the hall, John and his speech, the reactions, the parents?
12. John, becoming a campaigner, finding himself, his ability with people, writing, interviews? The change in his life? The continued difficulty of the relationship with his mother, her not quite understanding, his visits, the meeting with Dottie? Some gradual acceptance?
13. 2019, his achievements, their being recognised, the decoration from the Queen, the applause?
14. 2023, the time of the making and preparation of the film, the news from Nottingham, his going to the interview, the change from medication to neurology, the mechanism, his wearing the device, the tranquil walking through the library, something he had never done, the peace and satisfaction of not experiencing the tics?
15. 59% success with this neurological treatment? In the film opening with an acknowledgement of the UK understanding Tourette’s via John, his achievement, and hopes for the future?