I Swear Review: A Satisfying Story of Perseverance and Kindness

I Swear is the story of John Davidson, a man whose relationship with Tourette’s syndrome was so impactful that he was eventually knighted by the Queen. In an inappropriate turn of events, he shouted profanities at the Queen in front of dozens of other British dignitaries. This is our first introduction to John in the film in his later life, which then prompts us to the beginning of his story. It’s a less comedic and far more sincere story of a bullied child who’s rejected by his peers and his family. The contrast between this prestigious royal moment and the hardships of his youth sets a thoughtful tone for the rest of the narrative.

I Swear Review

As a young boy, John hadn’t struggled with Tourette syndrome and coprolalia. After an intense bout of stress, the syndrome is brought onto him as if something snapped in his brain. It leaves him unable to control what he does or says. In an intolerant world of the late 80s in Britain, this drew the eye of his headmaster, who beat him for his uncontrollable condition. His friends beat him up after he accidentally insults them, and it causes his father to leave him. The tics and the punishment he receives lead to a destructive cycle in his football game and put heavy stress on his family at home.

It’s a robust prologue to a story that takes up about the first 40 minutes of the film. It’s shocking, but there’s something genuinely disarming about the film that comes through in Scott Ellis Watson’s performance as the younger John. This opening sequence feels like a delightful, albeit heartbreaking, short film to bring us into the later parts of John’s life. It grounds the audience in his specific reality before skipping forward.

We find him still riddled with the disease that cannot be controlled, and still an outcast in his daily routine. He finds himself living with his mother after taking on the role of caretaker. In movies like this about intolerance, familiar characters appear. There are those who reject him and consider his mental illness to be imaginary, and there are those unlikely people who are understanding and tolerant. I Swear functions primarily as a movie about perseverance and kindness above all else.

As an adult, John is portrayed lovingly and beautifully by Robert Aramayo. He has this boyish charm that balances the inherent comedy of a guy who screams all his intrusive thoughts with the quiet struggle that comes with it. As John navigates this life and finds his place in it, he becomes this fascinating, unsung hero in society. He’s a person forced into this role of an educator who slowly finds his people. Aramayo does a perfect job of portraying Tourette’s. I recognized so much of it as feeling so authentic that I do wonder if Robert himself has the illness.

In some ways, I Swear‘s dryness is a strong suit because it’s empathetic and kind to John while also allowing for a few great spots of comedy. Peter Mullan is excellent as Tommy. He’s soft-spoken and kind, and he’s a nice person for John to interact with. He’s one of the few heroes that John sees in his story. One of the reasons why the film is so satisfying to watch is because of the humanity displayed on screen here.

Is I Swear worth watching?

I find Maxine Peake’s performance excellent as well. She’s cold but occasionally warm, and she plays out the complicated relationship between John and his parents excellently. Her dynamic with Aramayo adds a necessary layer of domestic tension, keeping the middle act engaging.

It’s an important movie for explaining this often unseen condition, Tourette’s. In some ways, it feels like a social awareness campaign, which is where the film finds its only fault. It’s long, and because it’s based in reality, it follows a plot that’s too thin to justify its runtime. The pacing drags slightly when the script runs out of natural cinematic conflict. However, the ending is satisfying and sweet. I Swear is a great story of kindness that leaves you feeling uplifted by the time the credits roll.

I Swear releases in theaters on April 26.

I Swear Review: A Satisfying Story of Perseverance and Kindness