Cinema: I Swear

Bold, poignant, and infused with unexpected humor, I Swear tells the extraordinary story of John Davidson, a young man whose life takes a sharp turn when he begins to experience the sudden onset of Tourette syndrome.

1983: 12-year-old Davidson lives with his working-class family in Galashiels in the Scottish Borders. With aspirations to become a football player, John starts his high school term at Galashiels Academy. Hearing that a scout will assess his skills as a goalie, John begins experiencing episodes of tics and uncontrollable coprolalia – a Tourette syndrome tic with involuntary swearing and the utterance of obscene words or socially inappropriate and derogatory remarks.

The head teacher responds by whipping John’s hand with a belt. This injury and his tics result in his performing poorly at football, to the disappointment of his father. John is banished from the dining table by his mother after spitting – he and his siblings are told that their father has left. John, distraught, attempts suicide by walking into a river, but is rescued and wakes up in hospital.

At a time when the condition was largely unrecognised and misunderstood, John’s world expands in ways that few could imagine. His unfiltered voice, once seen as disruptive, becomes a rallying point for understanding and change, carving out a space where honesty, individuality, and courage shine through.

Robert Aramayo embodies John with remarkable energy and depth, capturing the raw humanity of a figure who insists on being heard. Maxine Peake, Shirley Henderson, and Peter Mullan deliver performances that illuminate the warmth, wit, and resilience that surround him. Kirk Jones directs with a balance of compassion and sharp observation, weaving together moments of laughter and heartbreak into a resonant cinematic experience.

I Swear is more than a portrait of one man’s journey, it is a powerful affirmation of identity and the transformative power of voice. Screening at Palace Cinemas Ballina and Byron Bay from Thursday.